CityLife

MIF: Rufus debuts Prima Donna

Prima Donna, photographed by Antony Crook

ONCE the world's most revered operative soprano, now a faded opera singer, Régine Saint Laurent prepares to return to the stage after six years hidden away in her Parisian apartment.

But in so doing, Régine finds that she is forced to confront many of the unpleasant memories and ghosts of her past.

This compelling tale is the plot of a first opera by musician Rufus Wainwright, Prima Donna, which debuts at the Palace Theatre on July 10.

Talents

Running until July 19, the opera is directed by Daniel Kramer, conducted by Pierre-André Valade and designed by Anthony McDonald.

It features the considerable talents of celebrated soprano Janis Kelly in the lead role of Madame, plus tenor William Joyner, baritone Jonathan Summers, soprano Rebecca Bottone and the combined expertise of Opera North.

“Rufus Wainwright has an exceptional gift for melody and clearly has a deep affinity with opera,” said festival director Alex Poots.

Tribute

"We’re delighted to be working with him as he moves into this new form."

Grammy nominated musician Rufus Wainwright has released six cirtically acclaimed records, which often pay tribute to the music of his youth: opera and musical theatre in particular. He is the son of Loudon Wainwright III and brother to Martha Wainwright.

Prima Donna has struggled to find a backer because it is sung completely in French. Rufus describes the reality of bringing his opera to stage as 'the more exciting... and terrifying thing' he has ever done'.

Exclusive

Talking exclusively to Kevin Bourke at CityLife.co.uk, Rufus Wainwright said: “I’d been thinking for years and years and years about writing an opera. I could never quite find a subject that I could handle psychologically for a first work.

"I needed something that was simple! One day, I was watching these interviews with Maria Callas and instantly this idea for an opera about an opera singer kind of fell into my lap.

"I want to make it clear that this is not an opera about Maria Callas, although she is in there. It’s more about the diva qualities.

Amazing

"A week later, completely by chance, I got a call from Peter Gelb at the New York Metropolitan Opera who’d heard that I liked opera and asked if I had any projects I was thinking of!

"The idea was so fresh and new at the time that he immediately went with that and we did workshop it there.

"I had a lot of conversations and met a lot of amazing people but it gradually became obvious that with that sort of size of machine I wasn’t going to see any results until at least 2014!

French

"That was the first issue and so was the fact that I was writing it in French.

"At first I’d intended to shift it into English, but it just kept coming fast and furious in that language so I decided to keep it that way. I had to get it out and I had to keep it in French so we came to the end of that particular road.

"But the Manchester International Festival stepped in. I think that just shows how forward-looking and risk-taking that Alex Poots is with that festival, and they were willing to go with me totally all the way.

Small places

"I know that the last festival kicked of with an opera in Mandarin Chinese, so compared to that French is pretty conventional!” 

Reminded of his reported comment that he was going to premiere the opera in “a small place”, i.e. Manchester, he laughs a little defensively.

“First of all, that was taken out of context and, secondly, what the hell is wrong with small places?

"I’ve played Manchester a few times but I don’t know it all that well, to tell you the truth. So I’m excited to be able to discover the city and, judging by this festival and what they’re letting me do, Manchester is an exciting, adventurous and enthusiastic place!” 

Prima Donna is at the Palace Theatre from July 10-19. £12-£47.50. For further details, click on the Manchester International Festival link on the right.