Cabaret pop singer Rufus Wainwright has never been known for subtlety. Heck, his most recent album, All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu, followed his jump into opera, when he composed the French-language Prima Donna, which premiered in the summer of '09 and is set to premiere in North America on June 14 in Toronto. And now, Wainwright, currently on tour in Europe, has made a rather shocking announcement: there is to be no applause at his concerts on this tour.
On his website, a post announcing the clapping ban says the following:
Rufus has asked us to pass on this message to everyone attending his shows on the tour. The first part of the program will be performed as a song cycle with visuals by Douglas Gordon. During the first set, Rufus has asked that you please do not applaud until after he has left the stage. His exit is part of the piece. After a brief intermission, Rufus will return for the second part of the show during which you may applaud to your heart's content.
Our favourite part? "His exit is part of the piece." Ain't that precious?
Head here for a list of the tour dates. Wainwright will also be performing some Canadian dates later in the year; confirmed shows are below. No word yet on if polite Canadian fans will be allowed to clap.
Canadian tour dates:
6/15 Toronto, ON - Elgin Theatre
6/17 Toronto, ON - Elgin Theatre
6/20 Sainte-Foy, QC - Salle Albert-Rousseau Salle Albert-Rousseau
6/21 Montreal, QC - Theatre St-Denis
On his website, a post announcing the clapping ban says the following:
Rufus has asked us to pass on this message to everyone attending his shows on the tour. The first part of the program will be performed as a song cycle with visuals by Douglas Gordon. During the first set, Rufus has asked that you please do not applaud until after he has left the stage. His exit is part of the piece. After a brief intermission, Rufus will return for the second part of the show during which you may applaud to your heart's content.
Our favourite part? "His exit is part of the piece." Ain't that precious?
Head here for a list of the tour dates. Wainwright will also be performing some Canadian dates later in the year; confirmed shows are below. No word yet on if polite Canadian fans will be allowed to clap.
Canadian tour dates:
6/15 Toronto, ON - Elgin Theatre
6/17 Toronto, ON - Elgin Theatre
6/20 Sainte-Foy, QC - Salle Albert-Rousseau Salle Albert-Rousseau
6/21 Montreal, QC - Theatre St-Denis