Rufus Wainwright Joins Line-up of Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts 2013

Critically acclaimed Rufus Wainwright has been added to the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) 2013 line-up performing a special program, Prima! Rufus! Judy! on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 8 p.m. The festival performance collaborates with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia under the baton of Broadway conductor Stephen Oremus for the two part concert. Wainwright explores PIFA's If You Had a Time Machine theme, taking audiences back in time with a performance of selections from his opera Prima Donna, featuring sopranos Melody Moore and Kathryn Guthrie. The opera tells the story of an aging opera singer attempting to confront her past and a reprisal of her infamous role as Aliénor d'Aquitaine, Queen of both England and France. After intermission, Wainwright recreates excerpts from Judy Garland's famous 1961 Carnegie Hall program, considered one of the greatest nights in showbiz history.

Tickets are available at $35 to $75, and can be purchased at PIFA.org, (215) 546-PIFA (7432), or at the Kimmel Center Box Office located on Broad and Spruce streets, Philadelphia, Pa. (open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., later on performance evenings). Tickets prices vary for performances and events.

Rufus Wainwright is one of the many national acts to join the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts 2013, March 28 to April 27. Additional artists performing in PIFA 2013 include legendary tap dance star Savion Glover, who kicks off opening weekend of the festival with world premiere of Dance Space on March 30. The solo choreographic work includes fiber optic star stage design and environmental sounds that transports audiences to 3.8 Billion Years Ago. DJ Dan Deacon creates an interactive musical experience using smartphone technology to commemorate when the first email was sent in 1971(April 12). Robert Glasper reinterprets Stevie Wonder's 1976 release of Songs in the Key of Life with Derrick Hodge (bass); Mark Colenburg, (drums); Casey Benjamin (saxophone/keys/vocoder), plus vocalists Lalah Hathaway, Eric Roberson and Stokley (from Mint Condition) on April 14. Internationally renowned Panamanian jazz pianist Danilo Pérez and the Panama 500 Band perform global jazz program inspired by Vasco Nunez de Balboa's discovery of the Pacific and Panama in 1513 (April 26), among many others. Visit Pifa.org for more information on the 50+ festival events participating in PIFA 2013.