Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright
Rufus McGarrigle Wainwrightis an American-Canadian singer-songwriter and composer. He has recorded seven albums of original music and numerous tracks on compilations and film soundtracks. He has also written a classical opera and set Shakespeare sonnets to music for a theater piece by Robert Wilson...
NationalityCanadian
ProfessionOpera Singer
Date of Birth22 July 1973
CityRhinebeck, NY
CountryCanada
play desire opera
The operas I listen to aren't in English, and I want to listen to my opera after I'm done with it. I want to have the desire to play it on the stereo. To me, the language is part of the mystery.
mother inspiration thinking
I think my mother, more than anyone, knew the importance of inspiration. If it was occurring, you had to use it.
jobs thinking done
I think I've done a pretty fantastic job, but of course I want to sell millions of records.
love-is
I love being not cool.
fun growing-up years
Growing up, for years and years I had no idea what the plots of operas were, and that's part of what fascinated me - I could make them up and learn bits and pieces of what was going on over time. There's something about it being always a step away that makes it more fun to chase.
writing people musical
I should write a musical. That is probably one of the final areas that I should pay attention to, because it does kind of involve everything. It's got theatre, it's got young, pretty people... And it's got money!
song miracle healthy
I definitely consider 'Poses' - the whole album in fact - to be kind of a miracle. Like the last breath of that moment when decadence is healthy, 'Poses' encapsulates that feeling. It's a kind of song and a kind of album that I'll never be able to repeat.
profound relax wish
I wish I could just relax sometimes and make some money, but I always feel like I have to prove some kind of big, profound point.
thinking elitist bits
I think we could all be a bit more elitist.
singing mahler sibelius
I like to sing to Verdi, I like singing to Sibelius, and Mahler maybe.
needs realizing illness
Once illness strikes, you realize there's not a lot of time for you to do what you really need to do. And there's no time like the present.
mother children party
My mother had a lot of parties when I was a child. There'd always be a moment when she would place me on the upright piano and have me sing Somewhere 'Over the Rainbow'.
hate believe artist
The thing I hate most is false modesty. The artists who are, like, 'Oh, you know, I'm really not that good. Oh, I can't believe I'm here.' I find it vaguely sinister, even.
lessons wonderful sober
Well, my great lesson with that was I went to the same production twice - once completely high and once completely sober - and both times were equally wonderful.