Rufus Wainwright Unleashes His Inner Diva

Queer Canadian troubadour Rufus Wainwright appears to be everywhere lately, keeping himself busy with a wide range of projects.

Coming off his critically acclaimed recreation of Judy Garland's legendary Carnegie Hall performance and his tour with the "Wainwright Family and Friends Christmas" show, Wainwright has been commissioned by New York's Metropolitan Opera to create an original work.

With a busy '06 behind him, the singer will cloister himself away to compose Prima Donna, a day in the life of an opera singer. Look for the character to have more than a passing resemblance to old-school divas like Maria Callas, Beverly Sills, and Regine Crispin.

No promises as to when the opera will make its debut, but early estimates predict a 2008 unveiling.