Forest Hills Stadium will welcome back two longtime friends on Sunday, June 17 when legendary frontman Roger Daltrey and The New York Pops unite for a special, one-night-only Father’s Day performance of The Who’s TOMMY, backed by the symphonic orchestra and a band of seasoned Who players. Tickets will be available to the public on Friday, Feb. 9.
Daltrey first graced Forest Hills Stadium’s historic stage in the summer of 1971. Still celebrating the massive success of TOMMY, The Who descended on Forest Hills for a sold-out, two-night stand that the New York Times described as “quite good,” adding that “most of the words were indecipherable, lost in the notorious volume that characterizes The Who.” Like those iconic performances, fans can expect to hear beloved classics from the 1969 rock opera, including “Pinball Wizard,” “See Me, Feel Me” and more — this time backed up by one of the world’s foremost pop orchestras.
Most recently, The Who celebrated their 50th anniversary on “The Who Hits 50!” tour, which kicked off the stadium’s 2015 season-opening weekend and saw the bands return to the venue after more than 45 years.
The New York Pops and Music Director Steven Reineke return for their fourth season at Forest Hills Stadium, presented by Madison House Presents. The orchestra’s Kids in the Stadium program, supported in part by concert presenters Madison House Presents, will offer more than 1,000 Queens children and their families an opportunity to attend and learn about live music for free for a fourth consecutive year. The New York Pops’ appearance is supported by Morgan Stanley, Blue Marble Cocktails, American Airlines, and Wigdor LLP, with additional support from the City of New York and the New York City Council.
Considered one of the seminal albums of the rock canon, 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. Roger performed it in its entirety with his band during his 2011 solo tour. The opportunity to bring an orchestral dynamic to the raw emotion and cathartic impact of the songs that cemented Daltrey’s legacy as a vocal powerhouse adds a compelling dimension to the music’s timelessness.
Daltrey says, “I’m really looking forward to singing TOMMY, not only with my great backing group, but also one of the finest orchestras in the country. 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.”
Supported by the band of regular Who players, including guitarist and backup singer Simon Townshend, guitarist Frank Simes, keyboardist Loren Gold, bassist Jon Button and drummer Scott Devours, and complemented by one of the best orchestral institutions in the U.S., Daltrey’s performance on this summer’s stage is sure to entertain countless fans.
Other announced concerts at Forest Hills Stadium include Belle & Sebastian with Perfume Genius and Frankie Cosmos on June 8, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats co-headlining with Hiss Golden Messenger on June 9, and alt-J with special guest Kamasi Washington on June 15.
For tickets and more information about these and other upcoming concerts, visit www.foresthillsstadium.com. Forest Hills Stadium is conveniently located just steps from the E, M, F, R subway trains at Forest Hills-71st Ave., as well as the Forest Hills Long Island Rail Road station.
