The acclaimed singer-songwriter and composer Rufus Wainwright, known for his multiple awards, is set to make a return to the BBC Proms with two concerts on the same evening, both titled “Want Symphonic – Want One” and “Want Two.”
These concerts mark the 20th anniversary of the release of his highly-praised album, “Want One.” This album showcases a diverse range of influences, encompassing elements from opera, cabaret, chanson, and jazz. These performances will be the world premiere of these two concerts, featuring entirely new orchestral arrangements that have been specially crafted for the Proms. Additionally, Jake Shears will join Rufus Wainwright for a duet of the song “Old Whore’s Diet.”
Rufus Wainwright says: “I have known Jake for my entire career. He actually gave me the Scissor Sisters’ tape with some of their early demos and asked me for advice and then they became bigger than anything I had ever heard of. I have always admired Jake for his musical vision and I am so excited that we finally get the chance to properly sing together and sing a song of mine that I think we both can relate to very well.”
Jake Shears says: “It’s hard to believe we’ve never properly sung together, but I can finally say we ARE! I am joining my dear friend Rufus Wainwright at this year’s BBC Proms at the incredible Royal Albert Hall for a duet we can’t wait to share with you all.”
You can catch the Prom live on BBC Radio 3, and it will also be available on BBC Sounds for one month following the event.
The 2023 Proms season has offered an extensive and varied selection of programming, spanning from Berlioz to Bollywood, encompassing both large-scale symphonic and choral works, as well as intimate chamber concerts and exciting Proms debuts. The Proms have also introduced a series of ‘something different’ concerts exploring genres such as Northern Soul, Fado, Bollywood, and jazz. This season, the Proms have collaborated with notable artists including Self Esteem and Jon Hopkins. Earlier in the week, the Proms celebrated the 50th anniversary of Stevie Wonder’s iconic album “Innervisions,” featuring surprise performances from Lianne La Havas, Laura Mvula, and Sheléa, who joined Cory Henry and Jules Buckley and his orchestra in this memorable event.
