Most people know gay singer Rufus Wainwright from his soulful songs which have popped up in films like Brokeback Mountain, Moulin Rouge and The History Boys. But he’ll soon be known as the guy who helped stage one of the only operas to ever show gay sex.
Wainwright has reportedly composed a new opera for the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto about Hadrian, the authoritarian Roman emperor who successfully ruled the region from 117 to 138 AD. The opera is called Hadrian and it focuses on the emperor’s relationship with a young Greek man named Antinous,
While Hadrian is renowned as one of Rome’s most effective rulers, he also ruthlessly executed senators who opposed his rule. He is known for his generosity and cruelty, his ambition and self-conceit. In short, he makes a great subject for a dramatic opera.
Although much isn’t known about his lover Antinous, historians think he was the son of peasant farmers or small business owners and that he met Hadrian sometime during his schooling, eventually becoming part of his entourage, possibly because Hadrian enjoyed his intelligence and his shared love of hunting.
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According to historian Royston Lambert, Hadrian’s marriage to Vibia Sabina wasn’t a happy one. It’s unclear whether Hadrian was gay or bisexual, but he and Antinous definitely had a sexual relationship. In fact, Hadrian wrote an autobiography and erotic poems about his attraction to young men (and possibly to Antinous), though none of these works survive.
Wainwright’s opera will show gay sex between the lovers.
“I’m a gay man, and gay men have been fans of opera for hundreds of years, but sadly there’s not been any big characters who are gay on the stage,” Wainright said in a recent interview. “We felt it necessary to illustrate the gay love act as it is, but we wanted to do it tastefully. It’s not a pornographic presentation.”
Sadly, while Hadrian and Antinous traveled the world together — visiting Africa and parts of Asia Minor together — Antinous eventually died by drowning in the Nile around age 20. It’s unclear whether he drowned accidentally or was perhaps sacrificed in the superstitious hope that it could restore Hadrian’s failing health. Perhaps Wainwright’s musical will add its own dramatic take on Antinous’ death.
After he died, Hadrian broke with convention and declared Antinous a god, an honor usually reserved for the emperor and his family members. He also helped establish an Egyptian city named after the youth as well as a religious cult that worshipped his young lover as a god-like hero.
While the cult eventually fell out of fashion — especially among judgmental early Christians who disliked Antinous’ renowned homosexuality — the youth became a popular figure for sculpting by Roman-Greco artists during the period. Some LGBTQ neo-pagans continue to revere Antinous as a gay god.
searchcz
I just visited Toronto to see this opera … I’m not a big fan of opera (or Wainwright) but the context and content of the show caught my attention so we gave it a look-see. Very happy that we did, as we rarely see same-sex relationships depicted in such a favorable light. I don’t think anyone is claiming this to be historically accurate, but one finds the motivations and machinations of Hadrian’s retinue easy to accept. The music was sublime, the costumes spectacular (especially the *naked* boys in the background), and the venue perfection.
* Sacrifice is no sacrifice, no sacrifice is sacrifice, if for him *
Nicely done Rufus !
nitejonboy
Rufus is a genius, I have loved his music since he was 12 years old and doing kids movies. His music, lyrics, melodies, brilliant!! I’ve seen him in concert twice!! He puts on one helluva show!! I’m not a fan of opera but I’ll see anything he creates.
stefe
It was quite a beautiful production. I love the Four Season Center. It was wonderful to see an opera performed by one of Canada’s premier opera companies, where two men actually kiss on stage and make love in a bed on center stage! Congratulations to Rufus and the Canadian Opera Company!
StupidBoy
It’s weird that Antinous is immortalized in plays and statues and history. He may not be a god, but this young man’s name will be remembered throughout history because of his lover.
We will be able to visit them on the holodick in 2450 on the Enterprise.