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Meryl Streep will lend her voice to Dream Requiem, Rufus Wainwright’s latest musical creation, premiering on June 14 at the Auditorium of Radio France, broadcast live on France Musique and Arte Concert.
Meryl Streep, a three-time Oscar-winning actress, will perform as a narrator in Dream Requiem, a musical creation by Rufus Wainwright. The event will take place on June 14 at the Auditorium of Radio France and will be broadcast live at 8:00 PM on France Musique and Arte Concert. Accompanied by the Radio France Choir, the Radio France Children’s Choir and the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, the American actress, who recently received an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, will recite Byron’s poem, Darkness, from 1816.
“Like everyone else, I have admired Meryl Streep ever since I saw her very first film. I have had the pleasure of knowing her personally for several years,” stated Rufus Wainwright. “Having her participate in the world premiere of Dream Requiem is an honor beyond anything I could have hoped for,” added the 50-year-old American-Canadian musician.
Dream Requiem was inspired by “two dramatic events that occurred in 2020: the COVID-19 pandemic and the California wildfires,” according to the press release. The work also draws inspiration from Verdi’s “Requiem,” reflecting Wainwright’s ongoing engagement with opera. He previously composed two operas, Prima Donna and Hadrian.
A recording of this concert is scheduled for release in the fall of 2024 under the Warner Classics/Erato label. Rufus Wainwright, well-known for his solo career, has collaborated with stars such as Elton John, Miley Cyrus, David Byrne, Boy George, Joni Mitchell, the Pet Shop Boys, Paul Simon and Sting. In December 2022, Brazilian music star Gilberto Gil also premiered a song-opera, Amor azul, at the Auditorium of Radio France.
With AFP
