Pete performs Blackbird in Animal Requiem concert at UCLA

Pete Townshend closed out Rachel Fuller’s Animal Requiem at Royce Hall UCLA on October 26th, with a stunning performance of Paul McCartney’s Blackbird. He sang and was accompanied by an acoustic guitar player, a full orchestra, and choir. It was the perfect finish to a glorious evening of music.

The show was put on by the Center for the Art of Performance UCLA, and featured the Hollywood Studio Orchestra and Tonality choir. This was the US debut of Animal Requiem, which has only been performed once before, when it premiered in London last January. It is a beautiful work that Rachel composed to celebrate, remember and honor all the animals we have loved and lost, written as an homage to Rachel and Pete’s 6 dogs who passed way in a short period of time. Hearing it performed at such a grand theatre as Royce Hall, with the incredible acoustics and amazingly talented musicians, was quite an emotional and uplifting experience.

Before the show there was a lovely display in the lobby of the theatre of beloved pet photos, both on a video screen and a pin up board, where the audience could stop by and remember their pets. It set up a feeling of love and togetherness, much like going to a close friends memorial.

The show opened with the light hearted Carnival of the Animals by French composer Saint-Saëns, which is a humorous musical suite of fourteen movements that describe various animals. The piece was narrated by Jane Lynch, and featured two pianists at back to back grand pianos.

After a short intermission to clear the pianos and set up the full orchestra and choir, the presentation of Animal Requiem began. The work featured Tenor Bruce Sledge and Soprano Caroline McKenzie, who were backed by the Hollywood Studio Orchestra and Tonality. They all gave a magnificent performance.

Rachel Fuller’s composition is such a beautiful work. She followed the strict format of a classical requiem, with complete Latin text and movements that fit the traditional requirements. What she added was so distinctly her own brand of music and modern sound, and that is what makes this so special. Anyone who has followed Rachel’s work over the years and are familiar with her pop music and the orchestral work she did on Classic Quadrophenia will recognize that this work was done by the same composer. She has really developed her own unique style.

Instead of the stodgy funereal work that one might think a requiem would be, Animal Requiem is full of lightness and power at the same time. It's an extremely happy and uplifting piece, so rich and full of textures that rise and fall throughout the performance. Rachel said in an interview that she wanted to keep the classic text, but without the usual fire and damnation bits. This is a celebration of life and loved ones.

After the requiem completed, a guitar amplifier was rolled out. Pete took the stage with his lyrics sheet in hand, accompanied by Jolyon Dixon on acoustic guitar, who launched into the familiar opening to Blackbird. Pete sang the song so beautifully, closing his eyes and placing his hand on his heart at times. The full orchestra and choir came in, as arranged on the Animal Requiem album, making this a profoundly loving and fitting end to this wonderful concert.

Rachel came out at the end of the show to take a bow, along with Martin Batchelar, who did the orchestral arrangements. Then Pete and the rest of the soloists came out and joined in for one final bow.

Congratulations to Rachel Fuller. What she has achieved with Animal Requiem is fantastic, and deserves to be heard live in all it’s glory.

It was a memorable evening for everyone lucky enough to attend this special show. Hopefully there will be more performances of this soon!

For more information on Rachel Fuller's Animal Requiem, please visit animalrequiem.com. Be sure to check out Rachel's blog about the show!

Many thanks to everyone who contributed photos and videos from this show! Special thanks to CAP UCLA for letting us share some of their photos!

Animal Requiem UCLA Photo credit: Reed Hutchinson / CAP UCLA