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Rufus Wainwright denies retirement claims

Rufus Wainwright 2005

Rufus Wainwright 2005

First opera will not mean end of pop career says singer

Rufus Wainwright has denied he will retire from pop music.

The rumours came about when it was announced he was commissioned by the Met in Manhattan to make his [url=http://www.nme.com/news/rufus-wainwright/28771 ]first opera[/url] ’Prima Donna’.

Wainwright said: “My plan was to be the biggest pop star
possible, then walk dramatically way to the hinterlands of classical music.

“But I will continue with pop because, er, I do love young people. If I quit I would miss the tight skin. Nah-ha-ha.”

Wainwright explained the reasoning working on an classical piece. He told The Times: “Opera has been my main squeeze. It’s my religion, my philosophy, often times my lover. Ha-ha-ha. I was writing on for years, without a story, then the Met commissioned me.

“It’s no called ’Prima Donna’ and it’s about a day in the life of an opera singer. I reckon it’s a couple of years before it’s finished. I am confident in my ability, but opera is a tough medium. When I finally enter the arena, I want to lay down the gauntlet, lay myself bare.”

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