Rufus and Martha Wainwright
Elbphilharmonie Summer / International Summer Festival Kampnagel
Mother
»I will try to stay alive / To see as much through your eyes / But one day you know I will go« sings Martha Wainwright with her breathtakingly pervasive voice about her role as a mother. This own song of hers is part of a program of popular and classical songs about mothers and motherhood, that Martha created with her brother Rufus in reverence to their late mother, the legendary folk singer Kate McGarrigle. It was first conceived in 2019 for the cathedral in St. Denis where traditionally the French Royals were buried. Now the siblings come to the Grand Hall of Elbphilharmonie, where Rufus already performed to great acclaim in 2017, also in collaboration with the Kampnagel Summer Festival.
Together and accompanied by pianist and musical arranger Laurence Bekk-Day they bring all mothers to life in personal anecdotes, stories and songs ranging all the way from Gounod’s »Ave Maria« to Queen’s »Bohemian Rhapsody« and John Lennon’s »Mother«. Rufus, one of the great male vocalists, composers and songwriters of his generation and a composer spanning both pop and classical genres, says: »Kate loved hearing Martha and I sing together just like she sang with her sibling Anna. She sadly passed away before we did this show but she is everywhere in this program and I hope that she is listening up above and smiling down on us.«
Performers
Rufus Wainwright piano, vocals
Martha Wainwright vocals
Laurence Bekk-Day piano
Programme
»Mother«
Festival
Elbphilharmonie Summer