Ravinia 2023 Issue 4

Rufus Wainwright feeds a grandiose spirit and sound NEEDS WANT ’S By James Turano RUFUS WAINWRIGHT HAS A VOICE best described as “cashmere wood”— soft, fine, and delicate, but with a solid, hardened edge. And his songwriting matches it: a mysterious mix of heartfelt, honest, and raw ballads and sturdy pop/rock ravers. He’s instinctively carved a space that only he inhabits. Even his name, “Rufus” sets him apart. He’s cool to the core. Rufus Wainwright regularly stirs his cauldron of creativity, defying both simple categorization and artistic limitations. Wainwright revels in fantastically filling his deliberately diverse songs with hints of musical passages that give a cheeky wink and a reverential bow to the past. He’ll often reach back decades, even centuries, for his muse, unapologeti- cally borrowing brushstrokes from Ravel’s Boléro , a Verdi opera, or a Gershwin tune to fill his canvas of challenging and refreshing original music-scapes. And if that sounds a tad hyperbolic, it’s worth recalling that Elton John once declared Wainwright was “the greatest songwriter on the planet.” He is no stranger to Ravinia’s environs, returning on August 11 for the sixth time, dating back to 2004. Wainwright’s new, adventurous “Want Symphonic” program makes its US debut at Ravinia, centered on his career-transforming albums Want One and Want Two , released in 2003 and 2004, respectively. By commemorating this 20th anniversary with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Lee Mills, and with new symphonic arrangements by Sally Herbert and Max Mos- ton, Wainwright revives these bold bounties in an essential sonic celebration. RAVINIA MAGAZINE • JULY 31 – AUGUST 14, 2023 6