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

Now, at almost 70 years old 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.