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Rufus Wainwright at the San Francisco Symphony with Premiere of Five Shakespeare Sonnets

Nov. 01, 2010

Rufus Wainwright’s Five Shakespeare Sonnets, commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony, debuts with Wainwright and the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall on November 11, 12, and 13 under music director Jeffrey Kahane. Setting texts from Sonnet Nos. 43, 20, 10, 129, and 87, Wainwright originally composed the cycle for chamber ensemble and it was performed alongside the avant-garde play Shakespeares Sonnette directed by Robert Wilson in 2009. Solo sketches of the Sonnets can also be found on Wainwright’s 2010 album All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu. Because the initial performances were so well received by audiences, the San Francisco Symphony encouraged Wainwright to fully orchestrate the works. Wainwright elaborates on his choice of text:

One cannot immerse themselves in Shakespeare's sonnets and not be submerged, drowned, and finally resurrected a better human being. They are, hands down, the greatest works ever written.

On the evenings of Wainwright’s performances, Kahane concludes the program with Kurt Weill’s Symphony No. 2. On November 12 Rufus Wainwright and Jeffrey Kahane will hold an informal Q & A session immediately following the concert.

For additional information about Rufus Wainwright, visit rufuswainwright.com.

Find out more on his opera Prima Donna by visiting eamdllc.com.

To learn more about the San Francisco Symphony’s performance, visit sfsymphony.org.

Rufus Wainwright
Five Shakespeare Sonnets (2010) - 20'
for orchestra
I. When most I wink - Sonnet 43
II. A woman's face - Sonnet 20
III. For shame - Sonnet 10
IV. Th' expense of spirit - Sonnet 129
V. Farewell! Thou art too dear - Sonnet 87
3(3.pic).3(3.ca).3(3.bcl).3(1.cbsn)-3.2.3.1-timp.2perc-hp.pno(cel).hpsd-str

Kurt Weill
Symphony No. 2 (1933)
for orchestra
2(2 pic).2.2.2-2.2.2.0-timp.3perc-str
25’

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