The new tour of titanic concerts of Who, accompanied by a complete orchestra, is its greatest achievement:

"No screaming," shouted Pete Townshend, scolding the jubilant crowd. "It's a great opera!"

Now, three years have passed since the end of his 50th anniversary tour, which Roger Daltrey called "long goodbye," the legendary rock band is back on the road and boasts its grandest iteration to date – Townshend and Daltrey, a group of five musicians and a symphony orchestra of 48 musicians.

Yes, more than 50 bodies took to the stage of Madison Square Garden Monday night to enrich and reinvigorate a long list of Who's songs, many of which were taken from the band's two big hits, "Quadrophenia" and "Tommy" – the latter , who helped The term "rock opera", celebrates its fiftieth birthday later this month.

Given the boundless vision Townshend has given to these voluminous albums decades ago, such as the projects that will push The Who beyond its previous restrictions on pop-rock and in a much more radical space, this last reality – which stars the 73-year-old windmill – he plays with his six strings surrounded by violins, French horns, bassoon and timpani – must look like what he had always imagined that these songs could (and should be.

This gigantic roadshow of 31 dates is called "Moving On!" And is promoting the band's new self-titled album, due out later this year (its first since 2006), but this two-hour ensemble was, in practice, a celebration of the group's past fondness for maximalism – and a unique opportunity in a lifetime for enduring fans to attend songs interpreted as such.

The concert was divided into three movements: first, a medley centered on "Tommy" with the orchestra (a different local outfit for each show) at full strength; then, a cluster of probabilities at the beginning of the career ends without the symphonic outfit; and finally a segment focused on "Quadrophenia" which culminated in the recent conclusion of most of Who's shows, with "Baba O'Riley".

The song "Tommy" has gone through eight of the 24 tracks of the genre, including the first five successive songs, from the flamboyantly crafted "Overture" to the crispy "Crarks", which Townshend has called to wrestle away as if it 's all over the place. usual. a grimacing blur of arms and fingers, always one of the most virtuoso rock guitarists.

The favorites "Who Are You" and "Eminence Front" were also included in this section and exploded cacophonically – these two original compositions are so distinct in themselves that they are not particularly highlighted by the immensity of the orchestra led by Keith. Levenson and arranged by David Campbell.

After about an hour, the ensemble left the stage and the main band – now a mere group of seven musicians – went through a handful of "old gold games, as we are," as Daltrey says. .

Here, fans have heard a jaunty "I Can See For Miles" – miraculously the only single of the group among the top 10 of the group in the United States – and a folk interpretation of "Will not Get Fooled Again", with only Daltrey screaming and Townshend ruthlessly hammering his acoustic guitar.

A cellist and violinist quickly returned to the stage to warm up "Behind Blue Eyes", a song that Daltrey continues to meet the vocal requirements. At 75, Daltrey is one of the most seasoned singers at the arena level. Since he underwent surgery early this decade to remove precancerous growths from the throat, his propulsion belts have stood remarkably well.

Daltrey was indomitable at the titanic climax of the third act, "Love, Reign O'er Me," which began with a masterful piano interlude, offered by Loren Gold, and reached its zenith during the incendiary howls of Daltrey. Although the rest of the performance was thrilling and brilliant, those moments got goose bumps, erasing a few songs earlier when Townshend forgot the opening phrase of "I'm One".

"I've never been very good at remembering words, it's not old age," he joked, as Daltrey threw his line.

Although this new tour was not advertised as a farewell trip, Daltrey again hinted that this may be the last thing to do: "I'm just realistic to live the 75th year of my life ", he told Rolling Stone in January.

If that happened and The Who would never present any new material to come, it would be a hell of a send-off: cuts in his most expansive and respected projects, reinvented by a magnificent orchestra and unleashed commemorates one of the bigger rock bands to have ever taken the stage.

Who's setlist

May 13, 2019 – Madison Square Garden, New York

• With orchestra:
• "Opening"
• "It's a boy"
• "1921"
• "Amazing trip"
• "Sparks"
• "Pinball magician"
• "We will not take it"
• "Who are you"
• "Eminence Front"
• "Imagine a man"
• "Meet"
• Without orchestra:
• "I can see for miles"
• "Replace"
• "We will not fool ourselves again" (acoustic)
• "Behind Blue Eyes" (with accompaniment of orchestral string section)
• "Tea & Theater" (Roger and Pete only)
• With orchestra:
• "The real me"
• "I'm one"
• "The punk and the godfather"
• "5:15"
• "Drowned"
• "The rock"
• "Love reigns over me"
• "Baba O" Riley "

Bobby Olivier can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier and Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us.nj.com/tips