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Artist News Gigs & Festivals Releases
Quadrophenia goin classical
By Aly Barchi | Published on Wednesday 3 December 2014
Pete Townshend has confirmed that he is going to release what The Guardian is calling a “symphonic reimagining” of orchestral arrangements of The Who’s 1973 LP ‘Quadrophenia’. Featuring himself on the electric gee-tar. Classic. Sorry, ‘classical’.
Only thing is, the so-titled ‘Classic Quadrophenia’ will feature opera singer Alfie Boe on lead vocals instead of Roger Daltrey, who’s more into crashing weddings than doing any real work at the moment, it looks like.
Anyway, it’s all orchestrated by Townshend’s composer partner Rachel Fuller, and was recorded in October with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Oriana Choir and conductor Robert Ziegler. All parties will reconvene for the record’s live premiere, which takes place at the Royal Albert Hall on 5 Jul 2015.
Commenting on the project, Boe, who by eerie coincidence was born the year ‘Quadrophenia’ was released, has said the album is “in my blood”, adding: “I wouldn’t separate it from a symphony by Beethoven or Mozart”.
Oh, totally. Meanwhile Townshend, who hopes the orchestral ploy will “reinvigorate” fans’ interest in all-things classical, says of Boe: “Alfie gives every performance his all. He’s a funny man too, and good looking. The girls like him. I can’t wait to be on stage with him. I’m going to push him into the orchestra pit”.
Classic rock n roll behaviour. Or classical. Whatever.
This is the ‘Classic Quadrophenia’ trailer:
