Rufus Wainwrightโ€˜s debut opera Prima Donna is to premiere next July in Manchester.

The story of a fading Parisian opera singer and sung in French, Wainwrightโ€™s opera is being produced in partnership with Opera North โ€“ and will be performed five times from July 10.

Manchester International Director Alex Poots comments on Wainwrightโ€™s commission, โ€œRufus Wainwright has an exceptional gift for melody and clearly has a deep affinity with opera. Weโ€™re delighted to be working with him as he moves into this new formโ€.

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Last yearโ€™s festival saw the world premiere of the Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlettโ€™s stage show collaboration Monkey: Journey To The West.

MIF 2009 will run from July 2 โ€“ 19, with the full programme being announnced in March.

Prima Donna tickets are available from October 10 at www.mif.co.uk.

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