Pete Townshend has been working on remaking The Who’s Quadrophenia (1972) into a symphonic project in the upcomign album Classic Quadrophenia. The first video from the project features English tenor Alfie Boe showing his chops on “Love Reign O’er Me.”
Boe is joined on the song by the London Oriana Choir and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. And the video includes scenes from from the movie Quadrophenia (1979) intercut with new images of Brighton Beach. I suppose the beach scenes are appropriate for a song featuring the lines “Only love can make it rain / The way the beach is kissed by the sea.” Check out the video below.
Deutsche Grammophon is releasing Classic Quadrophenia on June 9. Meanwhile, Townshend, Roger Daltrey, and the rest of The Who are touring North America as part of the band’s “Who Hits 50!” tour.
What do you think of the operatic “Love Reign O’er Me”? Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)