Rufus Wainwright

Being at a Rufus Wainwright concert is a bit like spending a couple of hours talking to one of your closest friends. The conversation is easy and flowing, even if you haven’t seen each other in a while. The topics range from serious: death, for example--to mundane: getting a massage or haircut, and everything in between. Sometimes the conversation goes off on weird tangents, and you forget where you were going with that. Sometimes you talk about old friends (“California,” “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk”). Sometimes you throw out new ideas (“Sword of Damocles”). You laugh, you cry. You realize how lucky you are to have a friend like this.

Rufus’s shows cover a lot of ground. He sang from his debut album (“Beauty Mark”, “Millbrook”) through his latest album of Shakespeare’s sonnets (“A Woman’s Face”). He sang a dark, dark cover song about dying (“Going In” by Lhasa). In fact, he sang and talked a lot about dying--as topics go according to him, “one of my faves.” This was, after all, his late beloved mother’s birthday. And there is a great deal of darkness about just now. But minutes later he’d have us all laughing with a story about trying to convince Lorna Luft to allow 50 drag queens dressed like Judy Garland be part of his show at Carnegie Hall (Lorna said no), or the Spanish masseuse who softly encouraged him to “perspire, respire, perspire, respire.”

Of course, Rufus is really not my friend. But his music and manner make me feel as if he is. He connects. He touches. He even invited some of his actual friends to be part of the show: The von Trapps sang a beautiful acapella song (“Storm”), then they and Thomas Lauderdale joined Rufus on Anna McGarrigle’s “Kitty Come Home.” When Rufus and Thomas collaborated on “Blue Moon,” it felt like listening in on two old friends jamming in the living room.

Rufus is an energetic and dynamic performer, without flamboyant outfits or crazy dance moves or anything electronic or flashy. (Wearing skinny jeans and a plaid shirt, he quipped that he was dressed “as a lumberjack.”) It’s amazing how he commands the stage with his voice and presence, yet maintains this friendly, self-effacing manner at the same time. Maybe that’s artifice, but it sure feels genuine. He is so low-key that you almost forget at times what an accomplished, talented, and musically diverse artist he is. From opera to ragtime, from classical to pop, from Carnegie Hall to the little Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon, he’s at home. And makes us feel at home, too.

Also sang: Gay Messiah, The Art Teacher, Going to a Town, Jericho, Out of the Game, Hallelujah, 11:11, Candles

Oh dear Rufus, have you made my life complete. Not only because your first gig in Paris back in 1999 was where I fell in love with my dear wife. But ever since then none of your gigs has been disappointing.

Be it the last minute solo piano gigs, or the extremely theatrical appearances with costumes, never-ending bands with horns and flutes, you have it all. In Berlin you already rocked: - the Passionskirche, with Joan as a Police Woman as Guest, and a final a la Passions Christi - the Akademie des Künste with a more American and electrified show - newly another church, the Apostel Kirche, with your half sister as guest.

Always pitch perfect, always witty and bonding with each city's crowd (though it might be easier with Berlin having your husband from here). But it's your songs and repertoire that make it possible, within a decade you've delivered albums that make you one of the most respected living songwriters by your peers, and many of the collaboration you've picked up also enrich the songs: Antony, Mark Ronson, to name a few. Please come back (and stay for good this time).

Often described as one of the most intelligent men in music, Rufus Wainwright has enjoyed a long, celebrated career which has naturally amassed a global following giving him the opportunity to travel with his music which in turns has gone on to inspire other parts of his music.

By having such intelligent composure, his music has quite a heavy presence when performed live and the emotional intensity of 'Jericho' and 'Little Sister' clearly moves the audience. Wainwright talks about the reason behind writing certain tracks and the affect that songwriting has on him as a person. He performs 'Gay Messiah' after expressing his strong views for same sex marriage, he is campaigning on a personal level so he can in fact wed his partner Jörn Weisbrodt which makes the performance all more heartfelt.

By the final encore of 'Going to a Town' and a spine chilling cover version of 'Hallelujah' the audience have well and truly been emotionally drained by Wainwright's discography and captivating stage persona yet they would not have it any other way.

Rufus Wainwright is an inspiring singer songwriter and performer. His accoustic concert in Perth showcased his breadth of talent, his incredible voice and piano playing, with his capability to bring people along with him on his personal journey.
Being able to show us his new works was obviously important while giving a good mix of audience favourites spanning his previous decades.It's simply not possible to perform all his works on one occasion and I believe Rufus made the right selections.
Not as enamored by his guitar work, I did most enjoy his movement between performing at the piano and standing to sing especially while accompanied by his incredible guest pianist, Thomas Lauderdale.
Would definitely return to see Rufus again...next time would love strings to accompany his heavenly voice.

We love Rufus! At our first concert, we met people who had seen him eight times! I thought it was crazy but by the end of the show, I understood.
Last night, a group of 12 of us went to Mercyhurst University to see Rufus. It was our fourth time! (What can I say? We're hooked!) It was the first time for our friends. The venue is world-class. Ticket purchases were easy. Parking was convenient and free. Now to the show...
Rufus was once again amazing! He played his classics and some new music. His voice was clear and strong. His stories were fun and entertaining.
He's a master at his craft. That's not just my opinion. The group of friends we attended with, all were wowed! If you have a chance to see Rufus Wainwright, do it. You'll be glad that you did.

A 10 out of 10! His voice is amazing, the vocal range, the depth, the control, the creativity was again amazing. It was one of the best concerts i have been to. I hope he comes back to northern California each year so I can enjoy his voice in person. He introduces most of his songs or gives some backstory after he has sung it. He's very jovial, funny and upbeat. He ended with Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk and encored with Hallelujah and second encored with Poses. Incredible show, I could not have been more captivated or impressed. I'm a deeper Rufus fan.
I would like if they would sell vinyl at the concerts too. It'd be great to have it autographed.

This was my third Rufus concert, an artist I absolutely admire as a 20 year fan from the early days of his career. Saw him in Brooklyn and L.A., and this time in Portland, OR. Musically this was probably the best one of them all, and Rufus remains for me the top of the line musician through and through. Needless to say, I was saddened by the political stain he forced on the experience with his lame not-my-president remark, and even more by the childish reaction of the audience, but what was I expecting from the Portland crowd... If only we lived in a world where artists appreciated their fans as much as their fans appreciated them.

Just perfect...

It was my sixth time (my second time in London) I see Rufus and always a happiness.

Splendid tribute to Shakespeare between recitals, songs and humor with four extraordinary artists.

Rufus offered us his most beautiful songs about his solo careers.

Looking forward to see him again in Cardiff, Dublin and Naples. He shows again he's the best artist of his generation and we still stay loyal with him.

I love you, Rufus, thank you for all.

Florence

Amazing.
Rufus has a way of making you feel,Ike you are friends and he is speaking with you in your apartment.
Intertwined with the fabulous talent he possesses are family anecdotes and just life in general.
His multi talents of vocalizing and piano playing are above superb.
Every song he sang was amazing.
A secondary highlight was the appearance of Jake Gyllenhall as guest.
Can that boy sing.
I did not want the concert to end.

Rufus is even better live - his talent is unbelievable, his voice is angelic. He performed three encores and I couldn't have been more pleased when he ended the show with hallelujah. I waited 20 years to see him and this show didn't disappoint. He sang his pop songs, songs from his Shakespeare album, and arias from his opera. My favorite was getting to hear him acapella - you could HEAR the music, without any at all.