Pete Townshend’s Classic Quadrophenia, his new, “symphonised” version of The Who’s opera Quadrophenia, has sold enough copies needed to secure the number 1 position in the Classical Charts several times over.
However, the orchestral record has not been accepted into the Classical Chart, preventing Townshend from achieving what, in sales figures, would have been his first Classical chart topper.
The album, which was released on Monday, has reached number 32 in the UK Official Album Chart, with the only other classical album in the pop charts, Andre Rieu’s “Magic of the Violin” (the current Classical number1 holder) at number 100.
Classic Quadrophenia has been disallowed in the Official UK Classical Chart due to the fact that the original material is rock music. However, in 2003 The Queen Symphony, also performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, was included in the Classical Chart. Composer Tolga Kashif used the melodies of Queen hits such as Radio Gaga, We Are The Champions and We Will Rock You and the release reached number 4 in the Classical Chart.
On discovering his exclusion from the Classical Chart last week, Townshend expressed his disappointment on Twitter:
“So musical snobbery in the ‘classical’ elite is still alive & kicking then? F**k ’em. There’s a huge team behind this album, entirely rooted in the practical world of recorded classical music, who deserve better than this petty slap-down. I know I’m a rock dinosaur and I’m happy to be one, but the team on Classic Quadrophenia are all young, creative and brilliant.” – Pete Townshend
Despite the work being rejected from the UK Classical Chart, Pete Townshend, who turned 70 last month, hopes Classic Quadrophenia will go on to become a regular part of the orchestral repertoire and boost attendance at classical concerts:
“A lot of major symphony orchestras are in trouble because their audience is getting old and the younger audiences prefer softer stuff, such as film soundtrack music,” he explains. “I think that Quadrophenia would reinvigorate their audiences and bring in people who might not otherwise go to see a symphony orchestra perform without lights and fireworks and a movie screen.”
Classic Quadrophenia was orchestrated by the composer, orchestrator and singer-songwriter Rachel Fuller. The work is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & London Oriana Choir and opera singer Alfie Boe, conducted by Robert Ziegler. The album is on the Deutsche Grammophon label, internationally renowned for its repertoire of classical and opera music.
Alfie Boe, who was born the year Quadrophenia was released (1973), sings the parts originally sung by Roger Daltrey and describes his new role as being “harder than opera. I wouldn’t separate it from a symphony by Beethoven or Mozart”.
Classic Quadrophenia was released on June 8, ahead of its world premiere performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall on July 5. Both include performances by Townshend himself.
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