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Rufus Wainwright Biography

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright (born July 22, 1973) is an American-Canadian singer, songwriter, and composer. He has recorded seven albums of original music and numerous tracks on compilations and film soundtracks. He has also written a classical opera and set Shakespeare sonnets to music for a theater piece by Robert Wilson.

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Rufus Wainwright Quotes

I am under no illusion that I will ever be the greatest opera composer in the world, with Wagner and Verdi and Strauss before me. I think my work could fit very nicely into musicals, though.

Greatest, Opera, Thinking, Under, Wagner, World

The Germany I was enthused with was more old fashioned and kind of romantic. I just got there, and the next thing you know, I had this huge gilded album. It was kind of an amazing experience because I didn't intend it to be that way.

Albums, Germany, Huge, Intend, Way

I like to try new things.

Like, New Things, Things, Trying

Once illness strikes, you realize there's not a lot of time for you to do what you really need to do. And there's no time like the present.

Illness, Like, Needs, Realize, Realizing

I've paid the price; I definitely have a reputation that precedes me, and there is a camp that plots my demise. But then again. . . it's funner that way.

Demise, Paid, Plot, Precedes, Way

I definitely try to broaden the scope of music. I don't know if it's pop or classical or what, but I'm religiously challenging myself all the time, for better or for worse.

Challenges, Challenging, Challenging Myself, Classical, Trying, Worse

I made the decision to take on board the critical feedback. Reviews are something you can easily ignore as a performer or writer but I chose to not ignore them here and I think that I benefited. I think I'm stronger for it - and I have a tougher skin as a result.

Benefited, Chose, Decision, Easily, Skins, Thinking

I like to sing to Verdi, I like singing to Sibelius, and Mahler maybe.

Like, Mahler, Sibelius, Singing

I'll be honest, I worry sometimes about what I've done. I have tied my whole person to my art and, whatever it takes to get that hook, I will go there and do it.

Art, Honest, Hook, Tied, Worry

I think my imagination and my passions are still firing away, but it's really the body that starts to make up the rules. It's not a major problem; it's just when you get a little older you realize how much your body thanks you when you are good to it.

Good, Passion, Passions, Realize, Thank You, Thinking

I was reared on folk music.

Folk, Folk Music, Folks, Music, Reared

And you will believe in love And all that it's supposed to be But just until the fish start to smell And you're struck down by a hammer.

Believe, Hammers, Love, Smell, Struck

I'm definitely a fan of juxtaposition. Using the most beautiful line to say the most horrific thing - I think one of the main things in songwriting is definitely friction between the words and the melody.

Beautiful, Definitely, Fans, Line, Thinking, Words

When I was young, my mother [folk singer Kate McGarrigle] brought home this recording of Verdi's Requiem and we listened to it from top to bottom. By the end of it, I was a completely different person. It was literally a requiem mass for my former self. I was about 12 or 13. The Requiem just totally hooked into what I was going through emotionally - discovering my sexuality right at the time when AIDS was devastating my community and dealing with intense parental situations.

Dealing, Home, Mcgarrigle, Mother, Parental, Self

One of the main destructive forces within our family has been these runaway egos. I think if you look at any show business family, that struggle exists.

Destructive, Ego, Exists, Struggle, Think, Thinking

I have managed to eke out a good and substantial existence. I'm not shoveling gold bricks or anything, but I do very, very well.

Bricks, Existence, Gold, Good

I may not lead the most dramatic life, but in my brain it's 'War and Peace' everyday.

Brain, Dramatic Life, Peace, War

You know the question: 'How do you get to Carnegie Hall?' Answer: 'Practise?' Well, in my case, I got there by not practising. I didn't finish my music degree. And when I got into the pop world, I decided not to conform because I figured that the point of being an artist was that you shouldn't be like anyone else.

Answers, Artist, Case, Degrees, Know, Question

Crazy as it sounds, I'm a believer in destiny and serendipity, and I have had cosmic experiences all my life. Something told me I was meant for greater stuff. And look, I've had a baby! And I've written an opera!

Baby, Cosmic, Crazy, Destiny, Meant, Opera

Being with the president’s daughter, no matter who the president is, you are connected to the most powerful political force on earth, and that’s scary. And when you mix crystal meth and alcohol with that, it’s…kind of exciting. A little too exciting.

Alcohol, Crystal, Daughter, Mix, Powerful

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