Love, reign o’er him
Pete Townshend returns to Tanglewood with ‘Classic Quadrophenia’
Few rock stars have a history with Tanglewood. The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra has long hosted rock, pop and country acts, but (other than Independence Day regular James Taylor) not many have a meaningful relationship with the storied concert venue.
The Who's Pete Townshend is the rare exception.
“We first played at Tanglewood when we were on our way to Woodstock,” Townshend said. “We were there four days before Woodstock and with my first wife, Karen, I saw `The Soldier's Tale' by Stravinsky, which was interesting, very, very percussive and delightful. And we played there again in 1970.”
Townshend will return to the Berkshires tomorrow with “Classic Quadrophenia.” Performed by Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops with Townshend, Billy Idol and British tenor Alfie Boe singing the lead parts, “Classic Quadrophenia” is an orchestral version of The Who's 1973 rock opera masterpiece.
One thing it isn't: a Who show. Townshend wants to make that clear.
“There's not that much for me to do in it,” he said with a laugh. “I do play some guitar and sing, but it's not about me. I have a more minor role.”
No matter Townshend's role, the work is a bit of genius. Scored by his wife, Rachel Fuller, with input from Townshend, “Classic Quadrophenia” swells with huge strings and bold brass parts. The piece represents an endpoint for the rock icon's long path toward classical music, a journey helped along by one of his heroes, Boston Symphony Orchestra alum Leonard Bernstein.
“He came to see The Who perform `Tommy' at the Fillmore (in New York City) in 1969, and after the show he burst into the dressing room and he grabbed hold of me and looked me in the eye, this very, very handsome and charismatic man grinning from ear to ear, and he shook me and said, `Do you realize what you've done?'” Townshend said. “He said, `It's fantastic and you must do more.'
“He was someone without snobbery,” Townshend added. “So his words meant a lot to me, and for me his old home of Tanglewood is a very special place to come to and I'm really, really looking forward to it.”
For a man who came up playing in dank rock clubs and impersonal stadiums, Townshend relishes the chance to play somewhere as rural and pristine as the western Mass. venue.
“There aren't many places like it,” he said. “The Greek Theater in L.A. has a lawn in the back and many sheds have similar lawns. But Tanglewood is a beautiful place to play and has a real tradition of amazing music.”
While there are only five shows on the books for this Classic Quadrophenia tour, Townshend is open to doing more. But he'd also like to spend some time pushing his legacy forward with fresh compositions.
“I do wish I could do something like this with something brand, brand-new and maybe someday that will happen,” he said. “But I do have to be happy that I did some great work when I was very young and it's hard to top it.” “Classic Quadrophenia,” tomorrow at Tanglewood. Tickets: $39-$189; bso.org.