Rufus Wainwright to perform with the Philly POPS

The Philly POPS announced today that it will perform a one-night-only concert with the internationally-acclaimed artist Rufus Wainwright. The Philly POPS Presents Rufus Wainwright will be held on January 19, 2018 at the Kimmel Center.

The Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus has been invited to perform music themed to support the concert prior to the show on the Plaza Stage. The POPS will also host a post-concert reception in support of William Way LGBT Community Center.

Wainwright - the vocalist, composer, and songwriter considered one of the greatest of his generation - will join the POPS orchestra on the Verizon Hall stage, under the baton of Music Director Michael Krajewski. Wainwright has said there's "no better instrument than an orchestra to help illustrate" his music. The 65-piece orchestra will accompany Wainwright through his unique repertoire of pop, art-rock, classical, and opera - "genuine originality" as proclaimed by The New York Times.

"Rufus Wainwright is an unbelievable talent," said Frank Giordano, President and CEO, The Philly POPS. "He has a great following in Philadelphia and we're honored to perform with him."

Following the concert, the POPS will host a fundraising dessert reception at William Way LGBT Community Center, just a block away from the Kimmel Center, featuring another performance by the Gay Men's Chorus. Wainwright is expected to attend the reception. VIP Packages will include admittance to the concert and the reception. Proceeds from the reception will benefit William Way, a community center that encourages, supports and advocates for the well-being and acceptance of sexual and gender minorities in the Greater Philadelphia region through service, recreational, educational and cultural programming.

Tickets: $35 - $146. VIP Packages: $500.

POPS Presents events expand the Philly POPS reach into a variety of genres and with guest artists of ever-greater reputation and talent, including Andrea Bocelli and DeAna Martin.

About Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright has released eight studio albums, three DVDs, and three live albums. He has collaborated with artists including Elton John, David Byrne, Boy George, Joni Mitchell, Pet Shop Boys and producer Mark Ronson amongst others. Wainwright has also distinguished himself by playing original orchestrated pop songs and pieces from an extensive classical repertoire with well-respected opera singers and orchestras around the world. His acclaimed first opera, Prima Donna, premiered at the Manchester International Festival in July 2009 and has since been presented in London, Toronto and BAM in New York. In 2010 Wainwright was commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony to compose and interpret "Five Shakespeare Sonnets," a five-movement song cycle that sets Shakespeare's "Sonnets" to orchestra and voice. They have since been performed worldwide by orchestras including the Chicago and Montreal Symphonies. The Canadian Opera Company commissioned Wainwright's second opera, about Roman Emperor Hadrian, to premiere in Toronto in the fall of 2018.

About The Philly POPS
The Philly POPS, the largest standalone pops orchestra in the United States, delights audiences with the inspired performance of American popular music. The POPS celebrates this distinctive musical heritage through an expanding repertoire of innovative concert presentations and a robust set of educational and engagement initiatives.

Now in its 38th season, the official POPS orchestra of Pennsylvania serves a consistently growing audience of over 100,000 annually. Music Director Michael Krajewski and the 65-piece Philly POPS orchestra keeps listeners tapping their toes to an impressive repertoire of songs from American traditions of music up through today's chart toppers.

Outside the concert hall, Salute Series performances - including POPS on Independence on July 3 and the I'll Be Home for Christmas: A Salute to the Military and First Responders concert - celebrate the American tradition of service around important national holidays; POPS in Schools enhances music education for Philadelphia School District students; and POPS Outside brings POPS music to local communities.

The Philly POPS performs as a founding resident company of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and at venues throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

About William Way LGBT Community Center
The William Way LGBT Community Center seeks to encourage, support, and advocate for the well-being and acceptance of sexual and gender minorities through service, recreational, educational, and cultural programming. The Center is open 365 days a year, offering access to programs and services including a 14,000-volume lending library, peer counseling, discussion groups, art gallery exhibits, a public cyber center, and the John J. Wilcox, Jr, Archives. New programs in 2017 include a partnership with HIAS-PA to assist recently resettled LGBT refugees and a series of LGBT history walking tours developed and conducted with the National Park Service in Philadelphia. For more information, call 215-732-2220 or visit waygay.org.

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