Quadrophenia – Live in Concert

Pete Townshend practically created the concept of the 'rock opera' with 1969's Tommy, the story of the deaf, dumb and blind kid who sure played a mean pinball. But it was with 73's Quadrophenia, the story of a boy who tries and fails to fit in with the world around him (the 1979 film of which became a classic), that Townshend and The Who created one of the landmarks in Mod history.
The Who's immeasurable impact on British music is being celebrated through this year and next, as the band reach a practically unimaginable 50 years together, and part of that celebration will be the debut of a new 'symphonic re-imagining' of the original Quadrophenia score this summer, with the accompanying release to be put out on the legendary classical label Deutsche Grammaphon at the same time.
Townshend, who will play guitar himself for the show, has promised to 'reinvigorate' classical audiences with the new score, being orchestrated by his partner Rachel Fuller. They will be joined at the Royal Albert Hall, as they were recently for the recording, by the Royal Philharmonic and the London Oriana Choir, conducted by Robert Ziegler, but it is notable that they will not be joined – on stage at least – by Roger Daltrey, whose parts in the original will be sung by tenor Alfie Boe (who, a stripling at 41, was born the year Quadrophenia was first released).
It promises to be a busy summer for the veteran rockers, as they perform at British Summer Time in Hyde Park (with 'the Modfather' Paul Weller, amongst others) at the end of June. If you can't wait 'til then for your fix of Pete and co., though - or if you'd rather your Who electric - make sure you catch them on the UK leg of their 50^th Anniversary tour (they're in London on the 17^th and 18^th!).