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Artist: Pete Townshend

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Pete Townshend:

Classic Quadrophenia

A leading icon of the British music revolution of the 1960s, Pete Townshend made his name by creating the power chord, smashing guitars on stage, and penning anthems of teenage rebellion like My Generation.

Now, approaching 70 and half a century after he penned the archetypal rock lyric "Hope I die before I get old," Townshend has created a "classical" version of one of The Who's landmark albums – Quadrophenia – for a symphony orchestra, opera singer and choir.

The new "symphonised" version of Quadrophenia, an album originally released by The Who in 1973, was orchestrated by Rachel Fuller, a professional composer, orchestrator and singer-songwriter in her own right – and also the partner of Pete Townshend.

Classic Quadrophenia will be released by Deutsche Grammophon/Universal Music Classics on June 9. The album features Alfie Boe as Jimmy, Pete Townshend as The Godfather, Billy Idol as Ace Face/Bell Boy and Phil Daniels (the star who played Jimmy in the original movie version of Quadrophenia). as Dad. Also featured on the recording are the London Oriana Choir with Choirmaster Dominic Peckham, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Robert Ziegler and orchestrations by Rachel Fuller.

On July 5, Classic Quadrophenia will have its world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in London, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and London Oriana Choir along with Pete Townsend, Alfie Boe, Billy Idol and very special guests.

Classic Quadrophenia is the latest chapter in Townshend's lifelong mission to break the three-minute mold of the traditional pop song and take rock music to a higher artistic level. In the 1960s he defined the concept of the "rock opera" with Tommy, taking it a stage further with Quadrophenia.