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New York, NY – Rufus Wainwright, the esteemed vocalist, songwriter, and composer celebrated for his innovative artistry, is poised to make his return to Café Carlyle, gracing the stage from October 15 to 19, 2024. Wainwright will sing Cole Porter and songs from his musical “Opening Night.”
Wainwright’s fascination with musical theater goes back to his childhood when his dad brought him to see the original production of Annie on Broadway and henceforth 7-year-old little Rufus wanted to play the part of Annie. His mother told him there were productions where Annie is played by a boy to encourage him to practice singing. He has followed her advice to this day making every live appearance of Wainwright an extraordinary delight for the ears. With “Opening Night” he has now written his first highly anticipated musical that opened in the West End in March of this year. Critics raved about his music. The Guardian wrote that Opening Night “shakes up musical theatre itself.” The Independent says “While Wainwright has always shown a genius for creating whole sonic and emotional worlds in brief songs, he reaches new heights here.” And the Daily Mail sighs “Thank God also for Rufus Wainwright's music. It explodes with the singer-songwriter's gift for doomed glory. A spectacular duet brought to mind the brassy swagger of All That Jazz.”
Wainwright says: “Opening Night is maybe the most personal work I have composed in a very long time. The main character Myrtle Gordon played in London so devastatingly brilliantly by Sheridan Smith is going through a personal and professional crisis as a theater company is getting ready to open a new play on Broadway. I have spoken publicly before about my drug addiction that ended in me temporarily going blind. I was going through a very dark period on tour also in 2020 while on tour and Gena Rowland’s performance in Opening Night was a beacon of hope that would get me out of bed. When I came home I had an email from Ivo van Hove in my inbox asking me whether I would write a musical based on Opening Night with him. I am truly excited to try out this material that I wrote for our wonderful company in London myself for the first time for the return to this magical and intimate space of Cafe Carlyle. Adding Cole Porter one of the all-time Greats on Broadway and in the West End to the program is of course high risk but during Bobby Short’s 100th anniversary year I wanted to pay homage to those two lovers.”
Praised by the New York Times for his “genuine originality,” Rufus Wainwright has established himself as one of the great male vocalists, songwriters, and composers of his generation. The New York-born, Montreal-raised singer-songwriter has released ten studio albums to date, three DVDs, and three live albums including the GRAMMY® nominated Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall. He has collaborated with artists such as Elton John, Burt Bacharach, Miley Cyrus, David Byrne, Boy George, Joni Mitchell, Pet Shop Boys, Heart, Carly Rae Jepsen, Robbie Williams, Jessye Norman, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Sting, and producer Mark Ronson, among many others. He has written two operas and numerous songs for movies and TV.
His 2020 GRAMMY® nominated studio album of original songs, Unfollow the Rules, finds Wainwright at the peak of his powers, entering artistic maturity with passion, honesty, and a new-found fearlessness. In 2023, he embarked on a journey to his family folk roots with his newly-released, GRAMMY® nominated album Folkocracy featuring reinvented folk duets with artists like Chaka Khan, Brandi Carlile, John Legend and Anohni and many more.
He has been working on his first musical of John Cassavetes’ Opening Night for the West End with Ivo van Hove for a number of years which is set to open at the Gielgud Theater in March 2024. During this time he has also completed a Requiem which will premiere with the Orchestre Philharmonique de la Radio France in June of 2024. Co-commissioners for the Requiem are the Master Chorale in Los Angeles, the Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, the Helsinki Symphony Orchestra, the RTE Orchestra in Ireland, the Royal Ballet London and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra.
Tickets are available online via Tock – General Seating $195 per person / Premium Seating $245 / Bar Seating $135
Café Carlyle is located in The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (35 East 76th Street, at Madison Avenue).
For more information and updates on these exciting events, follow Café Carlyle on Instagram @cafecarlyle and Facebook.
About Café Carlyle:
Tucked behind a Madison Avenue doorway, Café Carlyle welcomes its guests into a classic cabaret setting where incredible talent and music are paired with New York elegance and style, yet in an updated way. Originally opened in 1955, Café Carlyle is known for headlining incredible talent through the years – from classic performers such as Elaine Stritch and Eartha Kitt to more modern-day acts such as Jon Batiste, Isaac Mizrahi, Jeff Goldblum, Jill Kargman, Katharine McPhee, Dianna Agron, Alan Cumming, Debbie Harry and Rita Wilson. For three decades, Café Carlyle was synonymous with the legendary Bobby Short, who thrilled sell-out crowds for 36 years. Seating up to 90 for dinner and a performance, the intimate supper club is highlighted by music-themed murals by Oscar-winning French artist, Marcel Vertès. Renowned for its traditional elegance, the Café infuses modern elements without sacrificing the history and refinement that are hallmarks of The Carlyle. Café Carlyle, the New York City bastion of classic cabaret entertainment, continues to draw socialites, politicians and celebrities into its distinguished and glamorous setting.
About The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel:
Situated at the corner of Madison Avenue and 76th Street, The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel has been a classic landmark of Manhattan’s sophisticated Upper East Side since 1930. Located just one block from Central Park, The Carlyle is a 35-story, 190-room hotel highlighted by the original Art Deco design from the renowned Dorothy Draper. Following a multi-year thoughtful transformation of the legendary property by New York based design firm tonychi studio, the property has recently debuted new guest rooms and suites in addition to a new signature restaurant, Dowling’s at The Carlyle. Embracing a passion for the arts, pianos grace many of the suites, and most tower rooms have views of Central Park. The Carlyle is also home to the renowned Café Carlyle and the beloved Bemelmans Bar and offers visitors a whimsical experience into an undefinable era of glamour. The Carlyle is the proud recipient of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2020 Readers’ Choice Award for #1 Hotel in New York City. Follow the latest news through the hotel’s Instagram: @RosewoodTheCarlyle @DowlingsAtTheCarlyle @BemelmansBar @CafeCarlyle
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