Rufus Wainwright pens debut opera

Montreal-bred Rufus Wainwright has been commissioned to compose his first opera, to be staged at the Manchester International Festival in 2009.

The pop balladeer has been developing the idea for two years. Prima Donna is a two-act, two-hour opera for four singers and a full orchestra, festival director Alex Poots has announced.

It will be set in Paris, and centreon a fading opera star preparing for a comeback.

The festival's production will feature soprano Janis Kelly, in the centre role, soprano Rebecca Bottone, tenor William Joyner and baritone Jonathan Summers.

Wainwright will not perform in the opera himself.

The son of Canadian folksinger Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III, Wainwright has been an opera buff for 20 years. He told the Telegraphthat he spent his summer holidays at the Wagner festival in Bayreuth this year.

"When I mention that I'm crazy about opera, people usually ask if I've been to Phantom," hesaid, "but that's not what I mean at all."

Prima Donna is being produced in partnership with the UK's Opera North whose orchestra will perform at the festival production.

Five performances of Prima Donna will be held at the Manchester PalaceTheatre, starting July 10.

The Manchester International Festival, which shows new and original work, runs July 2-19.