Siddhartha, the Herrman Hesse novel that has captivated and enlightened readers for over a century, has been reinvented for a new multimedia project. The Seeker features music and lyrics by composer and writer Rachel Fuller and The Who’s Pete Townshend, spouses and longtime creative partners. The project combines a 128-page hardback book and a double vinyl LP into one package. The two components will also be available separately; the standalone version of the book includes a QR code to access the album digitally.
Emilia Wharfe contributes vivid artwork to the book, while the music of The Seeker brings together an all-star cast including narration from the late Christopher Plummer and performances from Townshend, Sir Elton John, Nakhane, Emeli Sandé, Layton Williams, Sunidhi Chauhan and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Releasing Nov. 7, The Seeker is available now for pre-order.
Additionally, a debut live performance of The Seeker will be staged Nov. 6 at London’s Theatre Royal. At the show, performers including Townshend, Chauhan, Williams, and Alfie Boe will be joined by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Nakhane will take the stage in character as Siddhartha, and Plummer’s narration from the album will be featured.
The Who’s music factors into the history of The Seeker. Fuller previously collaborated with the Royal Philharmonic on an arrangement of The Who’s Quadrophenia, while orchestral arrangements of several Who songs are included in The Seeker. The project also incorporates solo songs Townshend wrote for a friend’s amateur stage play of Siddhartha in 1976.
Siddhartha tracks the title character’s journey toward enlightenment in the time of the Gautama Buddha in ancient India and Nepal. The book incorporates Hesse’s knowledge of Buddhism as well as Hinduism, Taoism, and psychoanalysis.
