Rufus Wainwright pays tribute to the legendary Miz Judy Garland and completely makes Mrs. Tom Cruise look the fool!

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Singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright's first opera, Prima Donna, is set to premiere in the UK this July!

After being turned away from the Metropolitan Opera in New York (the singer refused to change the language of the libretto from French to English), Wainwright has secured a spot at the Manchester's Palace Theatre as part of the Manchester International Festival.

"When I started writing the opera it was in French and it takes place in Paris," said the classical songbird of the venue swap. "It made sense - I was brought up in Montreal and I can speak French. The music started to reflect the language. But the Met wanted to commission an American work."

Always remain true to your work!

The opera follows the story of "a faded operatic soprano about to return to the stage after a six-year lay-off," and Wainwright is hoping Prima Donna will transform the current state of the opera genre!

"Opera seems to have been hijacked by intellectual elements… For a long time I wanted to make it a little less intellectual and have more emotional engagement. You have to remember it was a populous form, like the bandstand of its time," Wainwright disclosed.

Good luck!

[Image via WENN.]

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In response to an apparently misquoted statement, Rufus Wainwright posted the following explanatory - albeit still mildly eyebrow-raising - correction on his website:

Recently, a quote from an interview was taken out of context and as these things go, it has appeared on many internet sites. So, to set the record straight (or shall we say gay), I am not nor have I ever been opposed to anyone's right to marry - straight or gay. I myself just don't want to at the moment and feel a strong tie to the traditional bohemian concept of being a homosexual, ie: the last thing we want is to be like everybody else. But who knows, a girl likes options. Maybe someday I will want to marry! Plus, in terms of practical issues such as citizenship, taxes, inheritance, etc…it is appauling that LGBT couples don't have the same rights and options that other people have and compared with Europe and Canada, the US should be ashamed of how they treat love. I have voiced my strong opposition to Prop 8 on many occasions and will continue to do so until that referendum is reversed. OK? I've got to get back to work now.

Cool.

But that whole part about marrying your dog, that was just stoopid!

[Image via WENN.]

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"Oddly enough, I’m actually not a huge gay marriage supporter. I personally don’t want to get married but I think that any law or amendment to the constitution that deals with sex and love should just be banned in general. I don’t think any government should encroach on what goes on in the bedroom at all. Frankly, if you want to marry a dog, why don’t you go ahead and marry a dog, I don’t care. I’m a complete libertarian and so I really disagree with it."

- Rufus Wainwright, singer and idiot, tells the NY Press

[Image via WENN.]

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"I'll never go back to ….Toronto. I can't stand it - the place drives me mad. I'm allowed to say this because I'm Canadian. I have friends there, I work there, but I find it really hard to like. I will have to go back there, but I wish I didn't have to. It's trying to be the New York of the Midwest. I much prefer Montreal."

- Singer Rufus Wainwright tells the U.K.'s Guardian

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Spotted: Jake Gyllenhaal at the Rufus Wainwright Judy Garland spectacular at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday night, sources tell PerezHilton.com.

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Click here to watch Rufus Wainwright's new video for Rules & Regulations.

He's such a glorious dandy!

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The girls weren't the only ones having fun at Glastonbury this past weekend!

The fagulous Rufus Wainwright and Patrick Wolf brought their unique flair to the music festival.

Sprinkling pixie dust on everyone!

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