Prima Donna (opera)
Prima Donna is the name of Rufus Wainwright's first opera, which is currently in the process of being written. He is creating both the music and the libretto, which he says will be about "a day in the life of an opera singer", anxiously preparing for her comeback, who falls in love with a journalist.[1][2] Further detail provided later asserts the opera follows an aging soprano diva living in 1970s Paris.[3] There are four characters, and the libretto will be in French.[4]
Development
In an attempt to bring younger audiences into the realm of opera, Metropolitan Opera general manager Peter Gelb and André Bishop, artistic director of Lincoln Center Theater, held meetings with several contemporary artists to discuss possible contributions to their innovative commissioning project. According to Bishop, each team would be offered a $50,000 commission and the entire project was estimated to cost around $2 million, split by the Met and Lincoln Center Theater. Each team or composer was expected to submit a piano-vocal score without a timetable, which would then undergo workshops overseen by LCT. By June 2007, Wainwright was the furthest along of all the contributing artists, having already started the writing process and revealing 30 minutes of excerpts to officials associated with the project.[5] By December 2007, Wainwright stated he'd "written the first act and most of the second act in sketch form and has almost finished the libretto," and that he'd have more time to dedicate to the project once he tour schedule completed. [6] Wainwright had completed piano and voice parts by February 2008, and began tackling orchestrations.[7]
With a workshop scheduled for January 2009, Wainwright revealed in a Brazilian TV show interview that his opera would premiere in Manchester, UK in July 2009. He stated the world premiere would be "somewhere small so that if it's a complete failure, nobody [would know] about it."[8] However, fans quickly became suspicious as to why an opera commissioned by the Met would premiere outside the country.
Separation from the Met
In August 2008, it was revealed that Wainwright dropped plans to compose a work for the Metropolitan Opera in a dispute over the language of the libretto and the potential date of production. Wainwright wanted the opera to be in French, while the Met and LCT insisted on English. According to Gelb, "presenting a new opera that is not in English at the Met, when it could be in English, is an immediate impediment." While Wainwright was initially open to the idea of translating the text into English, he said the French became "too entrenched in the music." In addition, the Met wouldn't be able to premiere Prima Donna earlier than the 2014 season, and Wainwright insisted he "wanted to get it out as soon as possible."[9] Both Wainwright and Gelb have stated there are no hard feelings and they are sorry the collaboration did not work out as originally planned. Wainwright confirmed that the premiere would still be held in July 2009 at the Manchester International Festival in England.
In October 2008, it was announced that the work would be produced in partnership with Opera North, with Pierre-André Valade conducting the orchestra, Daniel Kramer directing, designing by Antony McDonald, and Janis Kelly performing the lead role alongside Rebecca Bottone, William Joyner and Jonathan Summers.[10][11] The Guardian stated Wainwright was working with two student assistants from Yale, but that he would be orchestrating the opera himself. With the first act already orchestrated and vocal score with piano reduction almost completed, the Manchester International Festival requested delivery of a full score in February 2009. Like Wagner, Wainwright wrote both the libretto and music, but admitted "writing words [was] much harder than writing music."[12] He also claimed that arias will be clearly defined and that no mikes or amplification will be utilized. After premiering at the Manchester International Festival, where the first stagings of the work will take place on July 10th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 19th, there are unconfirmed plans to transfer the opera to London.[13]
Roles
| Role | Voice Type | Premiere Cast - MIF, July 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Madame | soprano | Janis Kelly |
| Maid | soprano | Rebecca Bottone |
| Journalist | tenor | William Joyner |
| Butler | baritone | Jonathan Summers |
Other works
- Rufus Wainwright (May 19, 1998), US Heatseekers #24, UK #171
- Poses (June 5, 2001), US #117, UK #132
- Want One (September 23, 2003), US #60, UK #88
- Want Two (November 16, 2004), US #103, UK #21
- Release the Stars (May 15, 2007), US #23, UK #2, Australia #58, Canada #7, UWC #14
- Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall (December 4, 2007), US # 171, UK, #171
External links
- musichall.uk.com profile for Janis Kelly
- sussexchorus.org - Rebecca Bottone profile
- William Joyner site - bio, gallery, repertoire, press and calendar for the American tenor William Joyner
- Jonathan Summers site
References
- ^ "Rueful Rufus: Wainwright savors life's battles". The Hook. August 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ telegraphy.co.uk - Rufus Wainwright reveals his Wagnerian side Retrieved October 9, 2008
- ^ Pop Singer Drops Plan to Compose for the Met - By Daniel J. Wakin, Published: August 27, 2008
- ^ Zuel, Bernard (January 25, 2008). "Rufus Wainwright". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Met Opera's Commissions Show Signs of Progress - By Daniel J. Wakin, Published: July 3, 2007
- ^ Always Thinking Big - By Wayne Gabel, Special to The Japan Times
- ^ The Eldest of the Wainwright Brood Talks Writing, Touring, and Saving the Planet - February 28, 2008 by Penny Patterson
- ^ Manchester beats the Met to new opera - July 28, 2008
- ^ Pop Singer Drops Plan to Compose for the Met - By Daniel J. Wakin, Published: August 27, 2008
- ^ guardian.co.uk - From pop to opera: petrified Rufus Wainwright embraces 'the dark religion', by Charlotte Higgins, Oct. 9 2008
- ^ rufuswainwright.com - News: The Moment You've Been Waiting For! Retrieved on October 9, 2008
- ^ telegraph.co.uk - Rufus Wainwright reveals his Wagnerian side Retrieved on October 9, 2008
- ^ Rufus Wainwright Opera Set For Manchester Debut, by Jason Gregory - Oct. 9, '08 Retrieved on October 9, 2008
- ^ Eventlist, Manchester International Festival Retrieved on October 10, 2008