Smashing Pumpkins‘ Billy corgan Launches Ambitious Orchestral Interpretation of ‘Mellon Collie’ at Chicago‘s Lyric Opera
Chicago, IL – Billy Corgan, frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins, debuted a unique orchestral rendition of the band’s 1995 double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness last night at the Civic opera House in his hometown. The performance, featuring an 18-track selection from the 28-song record and backed by a 60-piece orchestra, marks the beginning of a residency with the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
The project arrives alongside a 6xLP reissue of Mellon Collie, representing a important reimagining of the iconic album.corgan approached the collaboration with a deliberate intent to adapt his rock compositions for a classical setting, acknowledging the challenges of translating songs like “Bullet With Butterfly wings” and “jellybelly” for orchestral arrangement. “I’m a bit suspicious of the rock and classical thing,” Corgan told CBS Mornings. “The first thing out of my mouth was, ‘I wanna voice my music for your world.'” conductor and composer James Lowe noted the complexities of the adaptation process to the Chicago Sun-Times,stating,”It was like,what do I do with this? How do I translate that to an orchestra without it sounding kind of silly or cringey?”
The opening night setlist included: “Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness,” “Tonight,Tonight,” “jellybelly,” “Galapagos,” “Thirty-Three,” “Gorgeous,” “Muzzle,” “Lily (My One and Only),” “Stumbleine,” “Thru The eyes Of Ruby,” “In The Arms of Sleep,” “1979,” “By Starlight,” “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” “To Forgive,” “Cupid De Locke,” “Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans,” and a second performance of “Tonight,Tonight.”
