European American Music Distributors Company is a member of the Schott Music Group

World Premiere of Rufus Wainwright's Prima Donna at Manchester International Festival

Jul. 09, 2009

Rufus Wainwright's Prima Donna sees its world premiere this week at the Manchester International Festival, directed by Daniel Kramer and performed by the Orchestra of Opera North under the baton of Pierre-André Valade. The concert music of the Grammy-nominated composer, performer and songwriter is now represented by European American Music, as North American rental agent for Wainwright's publisher Warner/Chappell Music, and its print music affiliate, Alfred Publishing. Wainwright, who has previously recorded five albums, has composed a new opera, Prima Donna, which was co-commissioned by the Manchester International Festival and the Luminato Festival in Toronto, where the work will see its North American Premiere in 2010.

Rufus Wainwright composed, orchestrated and co-wrote with Bernadette Colomine the libretto for Prima Donna, which tells the tale of a struggling opera diva attempting to regain success after a difficult career. The opera is sung in French and is set in Paris in the 1970s. Production design is by Antony McDonald, lighting by Peter Mumford and choreography by Philippe Giraudeau. Soprano Janis Kelly sings the lead role of Madame Régine Saint Laurent, a fading opera diva who at one time was the world's most revered operatic soprano and is now preparing for her return to the stage following six years of silence. Remaining principal cast includes baritone Jonathan Summers, soprano Rebecca Bottone, and tenor William Joyner.

Wainwright is also at work on Five Shakespeare Sonnets for voice and orchestra, a project commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony, which will be conducted by Edwin Outwater and performed by the multi-genre composer and performer himself in April, 2010. Subsequent performances by co-commissioners in the US and abroad will be announced shortly. This project follows Wainwright's wildly successful and stunning collaboration with Robert Wilson on a piece for the Berliner Ensemble, also based on Shakespeare's sonnets, which was performed in spring 2009.

For more information on Rufus Wainwright, visit his website at www.rufuswainwright.com.

For more information on Prima Donna, visit its page at the Manchester International Festival's website, at www.mif.co.uk.

Rufus Wainwright
Prima Donna (2009)
opera in two acts
principal roles: Madame Régine Saint Laurent (dramatic soprano), Marie (coloratura soprano), André (tenor), and Philippe (baritone)
3(3.pic).2(2.ca).3(2.Eb cl, 3.bcl).2.cbsn-4.3(1, 2, 3.ptp).2.btbn.0-timp.2perc-hp.org.pno.cel-str
ca. 2:45

News