Rufus Wainwright

Rufus Wainwright is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter.

While performing at various clubs in Montreal, some of Wainwright's demos caught the attention of a DreamWorks Records executive. Wainwright was signed to the label in 1998 and released his self-titled debut album that year.

Rolling Stone Magazine hailed the album's "classy" songs and said that they were reminiscent of pop standards due to Wainwright's "incandescent" songwriting.Rolling Stone: Rufus Wainwright review In the All Music Guide's review of the album, critic Jason Ankeny wrote that Wainwright conveyed "the kind of honest emotion sorely lacking in the ironic posing of many of his contemporaries."Allmusic: Rufus Wainwright review

Wainwright's subsequent albums have received generally favorable reviews. In 2007, the singer said he was going to write an opera following his then-ongoing tour.The Hook: INTERVIEW- Rueful Rufus: Wainwright savors life's battles (August 16, 2007) The opera has been reportedly commissioned by Metropolitan Opera manager Peter Gelb.

On August 28, 2008, Wainwright dropped his plans to work on the opera with the Met after differences over what language the opera was going to be performed in. While Wainwright preferred French, the Met wanted English.Los Angeles Times: Rufus Wainwright and Met Opera part ways (August 28, 2008)

• 1998: Rufus Wainwright
• 2001: Poses
• 2003: Want One
• 2004: Want Two
• 2007: Release the Stars
• 2007: Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall