In stark contrast to earlier in the week when the juggernaut that is The Rolling Stones launched their latest European Tour in a large field in Flanders to a fanfare of tailbacks on the motorways, The Who treated the 5400 crowd to a sparkling cross-section of their 43 year back catalogue in perhaps the most intimate setting that they will encounter on this summer’s tour.

Arriving on stage with a minimum of fanfare, Roger Daltrey belied his 63 years with a youthful physique clad entirely in black. Across the stage, dressed in white shirt and with grey stubble prominent on his face, Pete Townshend resembled a grizzled academic as he led the band into a high octane opening salvo of "I Can’t Explain", "The Seeker" and "Substitute", each one a hit single from an era when the music rather than the image was the medium for communicating with the audience. This set the tone for a 2-hour set rich with Townshend’s articulate musical essays ranging from the anger of youth ("My Generation") to the more recent Dylanesque expression of disillusionment with the hypocrisy of organised religions ("A Man in a Purple Dress").

Townshend was in surprisingly good humour throughout, jokily threatening to invoke EEC sanctions on one rowdy reveller near the front of the stage, before definitively reclaiming "Behind Blue Eyes" from the limp cover version perpetrated on the world a few years ago with a series of windmills during the song’s energetic mid-section. Backed by long time side-men Pino Palladino (bass), Simon Townshend (guitar), John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick (keyboards) and the excellent, underrated Zak Starkey (drums), his guitar work, both electric and acoustic, was dazzling throughout. The stunning interplay between Townshend and Starkey on the "Amazing Journey/Sparks" section of the Tommy encore was the highpoint of the show.

Doubts have been expressed regarding the ability of Daltrey’s voice to sustain the rigours of a long tour, given his age and the nature of the material he performs. He was in fine voice throughout, expressing his thanks to Elvis for inspiring him to the life he has had, rather than the one he might have had ("Real Good Looking Boy"), before delivering his finest vocal performances of the evening on those signature Who anthems "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again".

A refreshing performance was brought to a thoughtful, almost spiritual end with the tender, reflective "Tea and Theatre" the last song on the Who's latest album "Endless Wire". It is a song that brings them full circle. Townshend and Daltrey alone on stage. Talking about their generation.