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October 09, 2008

Rufus Wainwright opera to premiere in Manchester...

Guardian (UK) | Read Full Story >

Rufus Wainwright’s plangent, melancholic pop songs, pulsating with emotion and drama, might be said to have an operatic perfume about them. And now the singer-songwriter is going the whole way – composing a two-act, two-hour opera for four singers and full orchestra, to be premiered in Manchester next year.

“I was horrified, petrified,” he said of plunging into opera-writing. “But now I’ve jumped in, it’s an utter joy.”

The opera has been commissioned by Manchester international festival (MIF), following on from its successful premiere last year of Damon Albarn’s Monkey: Journey to the West.

“Since I was 14 years old I have been converted to the dark religion of opera,” said Wainwright. “I’ll even be dramatic about it: it has saved my life, guiding me through some pretty tough junctures.”


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