Rufus Wainwright returning to New Zealand for 20th anniversary

Rufus Wainwright is returning to NZ for his 20th Anniversary tour. Photo / Supplied

The legendary Rufus Wainwright is returning to New Zealand to celebrate his 20th anniversary in music.

During the course of two decades, Wainwright has released eight studio albums, three DVDs, and three live albums. He's collaborated with artists like Elton John, David Byrne, Mark Ronson and Joni Mitchell and has won numerous awards and acclaim.

Now, he's bringing his All These Poses tour to Auckland and Wellington, hitting New Zealand shores in March next year.

The Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and composer will perform material from two critically acclaimed albums: his breakthrough debut Rufus Wainwright (1998) and Poses (2001) – featuring fan favourites like Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk, Poses, April Fools, California, and Foolish Love.

"Twenty years, what can I say? In life, one stands the test of time, but in music, thankfully, one reaps the rewards," says Wainwright.

"Come savour a very fine vintage of songs, those were some pretty good years."

Wainwright was last in New Zealand just a year ago, when he headlined the Auckland Arts Festival with a two-part show. First, he and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra put on an abridged version of his opera Prima Donna, and in the second half, he played a selection of songs from his popular Judy Garland tribute, Rufus Does Judy.

His new tour, proudly presented by TimeOut, will hit Auckland's Town Hall on March 2 and Wellington's Opera House on March 3.

Tickets go on sale for both shows at 9am, August 16, through Ticketmaster. VIP packages are available.