Rufus Wainwright: 'Writing an opera is never easy'

Rufus Wainwright had revealed how difficult he found writing his first opera, 'Prima Donna', which premieres in Manchester tomorrow (July 10).

Despite his singer-songwriter back catalogue, Wainwright has been a fan of opera for 20 years, and 'Prima Donna' has been in gestation since his 2007-2008 tour.

"It's never easy," he told the BBC World Service about working on the show. "No matter how trained or how knowledgeable or fit you are, it's always gonna take every little ounce of your being to do. And there's no easy way around it. But that's the point of opera - it's a full body experience."

'Prima Donna' – written and performed entirely in French – marks Wainwright's first move into opera.

"It's about a older opera singer who is deciding whether to continue her career or not," he said of the show, adding that it's partially based on renowned soprano Maria Callas.

Wainwright's 'Prima Donna' runs from July 10-19 at Manchester's Palace Theatre, as part of the theatre's International Festival. Shows also take place in London, Toronto and Melbourne.

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