Wainwright to Take Garland Concert to London and Paris

Rufus Wainwright will once again pay tribute to Judy Garland by recreating her legendary 1961 Carnegie Hall concert. 

The acclaimed singer/songwriter, who premiered the concert at Carnegie Hall in June of 2006, will next present the show in London and in Paris--at the respective theaters where Garland triumphed.  Wainwright will play the London Palladium on February 18th and February 25th, 2007 and the L'Olympia in Paris on February 20th.

Plans for a Garland concert at the Hollywood Bowl are also being made, although nothing official has been announced.

As with the New York concert, Stephen Oremus (Wicked, Avenue Q) provides musical direction.  Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Gypsy, Cabaret) directed the original Carnegie Hall performance, and will continue to be involved with the upcoming concerts.   Wainwright, who will perform such songs as "San Francisco," "Swanee" and "Come Rain or Come Shine," will be backed by a 40-piece orchestra.

Wainwright's concert was inspired by the 2001 40th anniversary reissue of the Grammy-winning recording of Garland's Carnegie Hall concert.  The April 23rd, 1961 performance featured the Wizard of Oz and A Star is Born star singing over two dozen standards and songs with which she was associated throughout her fabled career.

Wainwright's albums include "Rufus Wainwright," "Poses," "Want" and "Want 2," his latest.  Known for melding contemporary sounds with jazz, cabaret and classical influences, Wainwright has also been featured on numerous soundtracks, including Moulin Rouge and Brokeback Mountain.

Visit www.rufuswainwright.com for more information.