Listen "Rufus Wainwright"
Episode Synopsis
Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright can justifiably be described as a member of folk royalty. The son of Loudon Wainwright 3rd and the late Kate McGarrigle, he is also the nephew of Anna McGarrigle and brother of Martha Wainwright, all accomplished musicians in their own right. He describes about how he spent the first few weeks of his life sleeping in a guitar-case, sang with his family from an early age, and depended on them during the difficult periods of his life. His teenage years and his twenties heralded difficulties coming to terms with his sexuality and with drug addiction, but he continued to perform and write music throughout the hard times. Now married to artistic director Jorn Wiesbrodt, he is also a father of Lorca, whose mother is the daughter of Leonard Cohen. Obsessed with Verdi, he has composed his own opera, set Shakespeare sonnets to music and composed for the ballet.His choices include Verdi, Massenet, Messiaen, Nina Simone, Kurt Weill, Manuel de Falla, Berlioz and Judy Garland.
More episodes of the podcast Private Passions
Peter Purves
18/01/2026
Vanessa Williams
11/01/2026
Alison Weir
04/01/2026
Pam Ayres
21/12/2025
Louise Penny
23/11/2025
Lea Ypi
16/11/2025
Hugh Bonneville
09/11/2025
Annabel Croft
02/11/2025
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer
26/10/2025
Hollie McNish
19/10/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.