Pete Townshend and Alfie Boe at the 2015 performance of Classic Quadrophenia at London’s Royal Albert Hall (Photo: Matt Kent/U-Live)
Pete Townshend is bringing the Classic version of The Who‘s Quadrophenia to U.S. audiences for five performances in September, with today’s (July 25) announcement that Chicago has been added to the tour schedule.
These special productions, that blend the 1973 rock opera with orchestral accompaniment, will feature Townshend, Billy Idol and tenor Alfie Boe. The Chicago date, benefitting The Who charity, Teen Cancer America, is set for September 13. That evening’s performance will feature the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra, Chicago Children’s Choir and guest singer Eddie Vedder. Tickets for Chicago go on sale this Friday, July 28.
Classic Quadrophenia had its world premiere in 2015 at London’s Royal Albert Hall and is now being brought to prestigious music venues in Lenox, MA, New York City and Los Angeles, CA.
The performances debut September 2 in Lenox at Tanglewood with the Boston Pops Orchestra and conductor Keith Lockhart. On September 9 and 10, the production will be performed at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House, led by conductor Robert Ziegler. The final performance, at the Greek Theatre, in Los Angeles on September 16, will also be led by conductor Robert Ziegler. That concert will also support Teen Cancer America with a portion of proceeds going to the charity.
“I’m thrilled to be bringing Classic Quadrophenia stateside through the month of September,” said Townshend. “Melding the contrasting sounds of Quadrophenia with a symphony has been a really unique and powerful way to reach a wide audience of classical and pop music lovers alike. I couldn’t be more excited to see it continue in the U.S.”
Tickets are available here and here.
The album features such Who classics as “The Real Me,” “The Punk Meets the Godfather,” “5:15,” “Doctor Jimmy” and “Love Reign O’er Me.”
Watch Boe and Townshend perform “Drowned” in London in 2015
The Who’s historic rock opera Quadrophenia was originally released as a double album in 1973 and has remained a classic rock favorite. The album, later turned into a 1979 feature film and theatrical production, follows an angst-ridden young man in London who creates a new life for himself as a member of Britain’s Mod movement.
Watch Idol tackle the Keith Moon vocals on “Bell Boy” at Royal Albert Hall in 2015
Related: See where Quadrophenia ranks on our list of best double albums of all-time
Pete Townshend’s Classic Quadrophenia Tour Dates
Sept 02 – Lenox, MA – Tanglewood
Sept 09 – New York, NY – Metropolitan Opera House
Sept 10 – New York, NY – Metropolitan Opera House
Sept 13 – Chicago, IL – Rosemont Theatre
Sept 16 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre
Watch the trailer for the Classic Quadrophenia album
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationTanglewood seems more reasonable for me than New York, although I’d probably see some celebrities if I attended the latter