Rufus Wainwright Premieres Met Shunned 'PRIMA DONNA' in Manchester for Summer 2009

The Independent UK reports that an opera by the singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright is to have its world debut in Manchester after being turned down by the New York Met. The Canadian's first foray into the world of opera, Prima Donna, was commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera in New York, but was not performed after Wainwright refused to change the libretto from French to English.

Instead it will be performed at the second Manchester International Festival as one of its highlights, alongside a collaboration between the Mercury Prize winners Elbow and the Hallé Orchestra, and the first-ever full-length concert featuring Lou Reed and his new wife, Laurie Anderson reports the paper.

To read the full article click here.

Rufus Wainwright is one of the most interesting singer/songwriters of his generation. Rolling Stone called his 1998 debut one of the Best Albums of the Year, and named him Best New Artist of the Year. He has recorded five albums of original music, several EPs, and contributed to numerous soundtracks (Brokeback Mountain, Moulin Rouge, Shrek) and compilations (Live at the World Café). His latest, Release the Stars, debuted at #23 and went Gold. He has toured with Tori Amos, Sting, Ben Folds, and Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour. The Metropolitan Opera has commissioned him to write an opera. In 2006 he sold out Carnegie Hall twice, performing the entire Judy Garland concert album recorded there in 1961. His music, described as "popera" and "baroque pop," often features just his beautiful tenor with piano or guitar (he plays both), but increasing employs full rock band instrumentation as well as symphony orchestra to deal with themes like love and unrequited love ("This Love Affair"), family ("Dinner at Eight"), religion ("Agnus Dei," "Gay Messiah"), distant places ("Sanssouci") substance abuse ("Go Or Go Ahead") school ("Millbrook") and celebrity and its consequences ("Matinee Idol").