Rufus Wainwright, The "Greatest Songwriter On The Planet" At Last Song Of Summer

[Photo via Hamptons.com]

You may know Rufus Wainwright best as the voice behind the soundtracks of "Moulin Rouge" and "Shrek", but his unique orchestral pop music has reached far beyond film soundtracks.

Elton John refers to him as "the greatest songwriter on the planet."

This Saturday, starting at 4pm, Rufus will be performing at Robert Wilson Watermill Center's "Last Song of Summer", a benefit for the arts. Legendary female opera singer Jessye Norman will be joining him.  Rufus, who is no newcomer to the beach culture (he grew up spending his summer's on Shelter Island), recently sat down with Hamptons.com to go over his newest project, "Prima Donna" an opera he was commissioned to produce for the Met, as well as his upcoming show in Watermill, his role as a homosexual artist, and the future of his pop career.

The Watermill Concert 2008: Last Song of Summer will bring together three artists exceptionally capable of channeling emotion in their music, offering audiences an opportunity to experience them in the singular environs of The Watermill Center, Robert Wilson's secluded Southampton laboratory for the creative process. On Saturday, August 30 at 4:00 pm, Rufus Wainwright, with his special guest Jessye Norman, will headline the concert, which will begin with a set by the highly acclaimed songwriter and singer Daniel Knox. The event's co-chairs include Lisa Anastos, Martin Dawson, Amanda Hearst, Tobias Meyer, Shamim M. Momin, Dalia Oberlander and Viktor & Rolf.

The Watermill Concert 2008: Last Song of Summer is sponsored by L'Oreal and Sotheby's, with additional support by Brooks Brothers. Treats by Oliver Cheng Catering and Events, drinks by Champagne Pieper-Heidsick, Ketel One, Peroni, TY-KU, VOSS Water and GuS - Grown-up Soda

The Benefit Committee Includes:

Regina Abramovich, Rita Ackerman, Jackie Astier, Cece Barfield, Claire Bernard, Georgina Bloomberg, Kathryn Bohannon, Brodi & Gregory Borchardt, Felicitas & Chris Brant, Marissa Bregman, Bevin Butler, Bryna Butler, Davina Catt, Olivia Chantecaille, Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, Annie Churchill, Everett Cook, Kipton Cronkite, Peter Davis, Sue de Beer, Moises de la Renta, Holly Doran, Gardar Eide Einarsson, Rob Fischer, Kelly Florio, Ian A. Gerard, William Gilbane III, Eugenia Gonzales, Lauren Hochfelder Silverman, Cena & Matt Jackson, Terrence Koh, Alixe Laughlin, Natalie Leeds Leventhal, Elizabeth Loomis, Nate Lowman, Jennifer McSweeney, Serena Nikkhah, Annelise Peterson, Amanda Richman, Laird Roach, Marina Rosenfeld, Melissa Skoog, Agathe Snow, Alexandra Stanton & Sam Natapoff, Vincent Szarek, Luigi Tadini, Mika Tajima, Atrhut Wayne, Chessy Wilson, Arden Woh