Lisztomania

Hot on the heels of his success with the Who's rock opera TOMMY, Russell turned his attentions to classical composer Liszt. Daltrey, who cowrote and starred in TOMMY, plays the famed composer as the first rock idol, along with Nicholas (also from TOMMY) as his fellow composer, Wagner. Both handle their roles well in this bizarre, sexually obsessed biographical fantasy. Russell's style works in some parts but often ends up in self-indulgence disguised as surrealism. The result is a shockfest. Wakeman's reworking of Liszt's and Wagner's music as rock numbers is an interesting if not entirely successful touch. Russell fans undoubtedly will love it, but the longhairs m...