Rufus Wainwright wrote an opera about the emperor Hadrian

Rufus Wainwright is both beloved and god.

Would it kill him to smile?

Judy was one of the most talented singers ever. She also had a lot of pain and struggle throughout her life. Despite that, she had a good heart, which is hard to encounter in Hollywood. At a time when gay people were oppressed beyond belief, they identified with her struggles and she theirs.

I attended the opening a week ago yesterday.

Grand production. Beautiful voices. Packed house sat rapt the entire performance. But music was almost totally dissonant, with few variations. I’ve been told by posters here that I’m hopelessly unsophisticated for expecting melody. But it would have been refreshing.

Best element was the libretto, which I found inventive and moving. I later met a man who told me he was a friend of the librettist, who reportedly had such friction with composer Wainwright that counseling was required. Wainwright is a demanding, self-centered, vain diva, refusing any and all suggestions. (It was his music score that got the worst reviews.)

Still and all, I’m glad I went. There is much to appreciate in this work, and I believe a few musical changes and cuts, including a mostly superfluous sex scene at the beginning of Act II, would greatly improve it.

The best music sequence, called an “Entr’acte,” is available on YouTube, as are a number of video excepts, added since the opening.

I'm available, someone give me an "H"!

[quote] Would it kill him to smile?

Why would you want him to?

Cool!

I saw it this weekend and I agree with much of what R4 says. The production values are amazing, the cast is great, but there is a lack of musical variation that lessened the emotional impact of the piece. To me, where it suffers the most is in its first act. It takes 80 minutes to introduce Hadrian's gay love interest Antonius. As such, it made the second act feel rushed and the affair didn't seem as sizzling as it could have been. It was ok, but if I'm going to spend the money to see an Opera, I'd rather see a Donizetti or Verdi where there is emotional music and glass shattering high notes by the sopranos.

Emperor Hadrian was a hot daddy.

Antinous was gorgeous.

Rufus Wainwright is a pretentious, pompous git.

I'll never forget his cold description of basically using George W. Bush's daughter by pretending to be her friend when she was in college just so he could get close to the center of power (that was exactly how he phrased it), and then shunning her because he decided she was empty-headed and not worthy of him. I genuinely hate George W. Bush, but you don't just use another person to see what it's like to be near power because their father is famous and then treat them badly. He should know himself how cruel that is, being the child of famous people himself (indeed, I'm sure subconsciously that's why he did it).

Gayyyyyy

What's this about Dubya's daughter?!

SCHUPERFLUOUSCH SCHEX SCHENESCH

Does he actually score his operas? Or does he write the vocal line and have an orchestrator do the rest? (This is a genuine question, as I've seen both claimed.)

Went and saw this last Friday, I get free tickets through my employer otherwise I wouldn't have gone. It was BORING! What a waste of an interesting story and good opera singers. I swear each aria consisted of 5 or 6 notes almost no variations. I also agree with R8 regarding the length of Act I. It takes way too long to actually get us into the plot and as such, the second act is too fast.

Is there sex in it?

Oh yes. Saw opening. Same note over and over again. Rarely effective, except occasionally spectacular effect: "He loved," over and over, was quite nice. Simulated anal sex in Act II. Kiss got a wolf whistle and applause. Anal sex got hushed attention.

It's too bad that Wainwright is so egotistical that he can't take the advice he obviously needs to get better at composing opera.

He's been a spoiled brat his entire life. He's talented, but he's sour and unfriendly, and massively entitled.

Trailer:

Behind the scenes:

‘Ground breaking ‘:

Opera gets gay(er)

Why did they have such an unattractive guy playing Antinous? He's supposed to be gorgeous.

talk about lookin like an old goat...u see him on the chat show las nite?

he mus be ill

IM told he is a grouchy old queen.

That Antinous is ugly

My husband and I left after the first act, it was too boring for us.