Roger Daltrey launched his symphonic “Tommy” tour of the US in Bethel, NY on June 8, and video from opening night is available online.
Daltrey performed The Who’s 1969 rock opera in its entirety at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts, where he was joined by members of The Who’s touring band and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic conducted by Keith Levinson.
“Tommy” was followed by a three-number encore that included the title track to 1978’s “Who Are You”, the 1971 classic, “Baba O’Riley”, and closed with “Always Heading Home”, the last song on Daltrey’s new solo album, “As Long As I Have You.”
Daltrey’s month-long series of summer US shows sees the singer performing “Tommy” in its entirety alongside some of the most prestigious orchestras in the United States, including the Boston Pops, the New York Pops and the Nashville Symphony.
“I'm really looking forward to singing Tommy, not only with my great backing group, but also some of the finest orchestras in the country," said Daltrey prior to the tour launch. "Pete Townshend’s rock music is particularly suited to being embellished by the sounds that an orchestra can add to the band. With the arrangements written by David Campbell, it should make a memorable night of entertainment for all those who love the arts.”
Last year, The Who played all of “Tommy” for the first time in 28 years at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of a benefit concert for the Teenage Cancer Trust that was released on DVD in October; Daltrey previously performed the project it in its entirety with his band during his 2011 solo tour.
The Who’s fourth album, “Tommy” reached No. 4 on the US Billboard 200 on its way to US sales of more than 2 million copies; the project was turned into a film starring Daltrey in the lead role in 1975, and has been presented in a variety of formats since, including a Broadway musical in the mid-1990s.
Daltrey recently released his first solo album in 26 years, “As Long As I Have You”, which mixes originals alongside covers of songs by Stevie Wonder, Stephen Stills and Nick Cave.
See also:
The Who: Roger Daltrey streams Stephen Stills cover from new solo album
The Who: Roger Daltrey expands US summer tour
Roger Daltrey streams title track to new album As Long As I Have You
Pete Townshend details Who Came First expanded reissue
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