`Prima Donna`, a new opera by Rufus Wainwright, debuted at Manchester`s Palace Theatre on Friday night (July 10).
The American singer/songwriter, who is the son of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle and brother of Martha Wainwright, was one of the writers of the French-language opera and was in Manchester for the premiere.‘Prima Donna’ is the story of a retired soprano who returns to the stage.
Wainwright was originally commissioned by the New York Metropolitan Opera to write the show but they rejected it when he wrote it in French.
The show received mixed reviews. The Independent said “charming performance fails to rescue flimsy plot”.
Citylife.co.uk said “this may not be a great opera but it is thrilling entertainment”.
Prima Donna will be performed on Sunday 12th at 3pm, Tuesday 14th and Friday 17th at 7,45pm and Sunday 19th at 3pm as part of the Manchester International Festival.
