An Epic Journey into Rufus Wainwright's Magnificently Opulent Double-Prom: Want One and Want Two

2023-09-06 15:35:03

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Rufus Wainwright: Want One and Want Two review – double-Prom epic is magnificently opulent | Proms 2023

Rufus Wainwright shares that he's been rehearsing his orchestral presentations of Want One and Want Two for several days and feels transported to another world. The Canadian singer-songwriter has been dreaming about these performances for two decades.

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Unlike some rock artists who collaborate with orchestras, the Want albums cannot be categorized as rock. They draw inspiration from chamber-pop, cabaret, opera, and the Great American Songbook, with deliberate allusions to Ravel and Wagner. These opulent songs are brought to life by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Sarah Hicks, and accompanied by the original drummer Matt Johnson. Various arrangers skillfully translate Wainwright's compositions, while the orchestra knows when to deliver powerful swells and delicate whispers.

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Mid-performance, Wainwright exclaims, "I'm 50! Jesus!" acknowledging the reconnection with the turbulence of his late 20s. Dressed in attire reminiscent of a circus performer or a scene-stealer from The Last Waltz, he looks magnificent and sounds even better, despite a couple of initial rough moments that he handles with charm. Like many beloved artists with a cult following, he embraces his imperfections. "Please stay to see if I make it or not," he adds at the end of Want One, comparing the experience to a sporting event.

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Want Two: Later Hours and Patchier Songs

For the Want Two performance, the audience has thinned out, and the hour is late. While the songs may be slightly uneven, guest vocalist Jake Shears gives his all. However, the nine-minute-long Old Whore's Diet falls flat as a rare disappointment. Fortunately, the magnificent encore of the Bush-era protest song "Going to a Town" serves as a satisfying A quick recap to both shows.

These albums, Want One and Want Two, represent Wainwright's pinnacle as a songwriter, receiving praise from the likes of David Bowie and Elton John. The breadth of his work is extraordinary: the subtly intense "Dinner at Eight," the shimmering tribute to Jeff Buckley in "Memphis Skyline," and the emotionally charged "Go or Go Ahead." Despite the grandeur of the musical arrangements, one of the night's highlights is Wainwright, alone with a piano, delivering a flawless rendition of "The Art Teacher."

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