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Rufus Wainwright: 'Writing an opera is never easy' Rufus Wainwright Tickets

Singer admits work 'Prima Donna' has taken 'every little ounce' out of him

Rufus Wainwright had revealed how difficult he found writing his first opera, 'Prima Donna', which premieres in Manchester tomorrow (July 10).

Despite his singer-songwriter back catalogue, Wainwright has been a fan of opera for 20 years, and 'Prima Donna' has been in gestation since his 2007-2008 tour.

"It's never easy," he told the BBC World Service about working on the show. "No matter how trained or how knowledgeable or fit you are, it's always gonna take every little ounce of your being to do. And there's no easy way around it. But that's the point of opera - it's a full body experience."

'Prima Donna' – written and performed entirely in French – marks Wainwright's first move into opera.

"It's about a older opera singer who is deciding whether to continue her career or not," he said of the show, adding that it's partially based on renowned soprano Maria Callas.

Wainwright's 'Prima Donna' runs from July 10-19 at Manchester's Palace Theatre, as part of the theatre's International Festival. Shows also take place in London, Toronto and Melbourne.


Rufus Wainwright Tickets

Date / Time Venue Town/City Seetickets Seatwave
Apr 11, 2010 19:45 Southampton Guildhall Southampton

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Apr 13, 2010 19:45 Sadlers Wells Theatre London

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Apr 15, 2010 20:00 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Glasgow

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Apr 15, 2010 20:00 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Glasgow

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from £39

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Apr 16, 2010 20:00 Usher Hall Edinburgh

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from £20

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from £89

Apr 16, 2010 20:00 Usher Hall Edinburgh

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Apr 17, 2010 19:30 City Hall Sheffield

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from £22

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from £84

Apr 17, 2010 19:45 City Hall Sheffield

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Apr 19, 2010 19:45 The Sage Gateshead

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Apr 20, 2010 19:00 Birmingham Symphony Hall Birmingham

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from £79

Apr 20, 2010 19:45 Birmingham Symphony Hall Birmingham

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Apr 22, 2010 19:30 Apollo Manchester

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Apr 22, 2010 19:45 Apollo Manchester

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Apr 23, 2010 19:45 Colston Hall Bristol

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Apr 23, 2010 19:45 Colston Hall Bristol

Tickets not currently available.

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Apr 25, 2010 19:45 Royal Concert Hall Nottingham

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Apr 25, 2010 19:45 Royal Concert Hall Nottingham

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Apr 26, 2010 19:45 New Theatre - Oxford Oxford

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Apr 26, 2010 19:45 New Theatre - Oxford Oxford

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Apr 29, 2010 19:45 Regent Theatre Ipswich

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On the wall of Rufus Wainwright's New York apartment is a portrait of him painted by 'The League Of Gentlemen''s Mark Gatiss.

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