Overview
Rufus Wainwright is a once in a generation talent; a showman who is in his element writing music, conducting an entire orchestra or belting out songs in front of thousands. In the dawn of his career, after releasing his first album, Rolling Stone Magazine named him the best new artist of the year— the first accolade in a long list that spans decades. Fast forward to today and he's one of the world's most celebrated popera (pop-opera) singers.
Wainwright brings his performance flair to Auckland Arts Festival in a show in two parts: the first is a selection of songs from Wainwright's first opera, Prima Donna, that includes a film from Italian artist Francesco Vezzoli starring the photographer Cindy Sherman, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra as well as three New Zealand opera singers. The second half is with Rufus himself, celebrating the life of Judy Garland and her renowned 1961 concert at Carnegie Hall. Soak in the nostalgia of show tunes and the sweeping drama of popera at this performance spectacle.