Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright has become known for his lush piano melodies and ornate song structure – often referred to as “Baroque pop,” and even, sometimes, “popera” – since his debut album was released in 1998. Over the past 12 years, he has established himself as a preeminent songwriter of his generation, able to transcend current trends and remain an enigmatic force on the music scene. And now, Wainwright – whose vast musical lineage includes singer-songwriter and father Loudon Wainwright III and mother-and-aunt folk duo Kate and Anne McGarrigle – a longtime fan of both classical music and opera has decided to delve into the world of Verdi and Schubert.
An intimate documentary directed by George Scott, Rufus Wainwright: Prima Donna, focusing on Wainwright’s foray into this world, will be shown at the 21st annual Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival on Thursday, October 14. The film follows Wainwright, an openly gay musician since his teens, behind the scenes, as he grapples with the production of his first opera, Prima Donna. With home video footage and interviews with those closest to Wainwright, including friends, his boyfriend, his parents and his musician sister Martha Wainwright, as much as the documentary is about the opera itself, it’s also about his eccentric childhood, chronicling how he became the enigmatic and mercurial performer he is today.
This article appears in Oct 14-20, 2010.