Watermill Center Bids Adieu To Summer With Annual 'Last Song' Concert

Wainwrights Joined by Norah Jones

By Colin M. Graham | 1 Comment

Jorn Weisbrodt, Norah Jones, Rufus Wainwright, and Martha Wainwright on stage. When Rufus Wainwright took the stage he sang songs that covered his whole career, including the aria from his opera “Prima Donna.” Photos courtesy of Patrick McMullan.com

Bridgehampton - After pulling off a miraculous last minute change of venue to the Field House at The Ross School's lower school campus on Butter Lane due to the threat of Tropical Storm Danny, this year's "Last Song of Summer" concert to benefit the Watermill Center was one to remember featuring headlining acts Martha Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright, and special guest Norah Jones.

Sponsored by Viktor & Rolf Parfums and Brooks Brothers, the event received additional support by Olivier Cheng Catering and Events, drinks by Channing Daughters Winery, Ketel One, Peroni, Ty-Ku, Voss Water, and Gus - Grown-Up Soda. Serving as Co-Chairs were Lisa Anastos, Martin Dawson, Amanda Hearst, Shamim M. Momin, Dalia Oberlander, Arden Wohl and Viktor & Rolf.

The show began with Martha Wainwright singing a combination of new and old songs, as well as a cover of "Tu es Partout" by Edith Piaf.

The evening began when the doors opened at 4:30 p.m. and guests entered to enjoy music provided by DJ Mel Debarge and a variety of cocktails, including drinks provided by Ketel One that were served from custom made ice sculptures made to look like their signature bottles.

At 5 p.m., Martha Wainwright took the stage, singing songs from her new collection. "I think you'll recognize some of these," she said before starting, "but not all of them." For her third song, she was joined on stage by her and Rufus' mother, Kate McGarrigle, a frequent addition to the stage, who played the accordion on one song and guitar on the next. Martha finished her act, all of which was sung in French, by covering the Edith Piaf song "Tu es Partout," before a brief intermission.

Special Guest Norah Jones took the stage in the middle of Rufus' set, singing three solo numbers including one new song off her yet unrecorded album. Photos by Colin M. Graham

When the audience returned, several of the Co-Chairs, sponsors and The Ross School thanked the crowd for their support of the Watermill Center and its continuing mission of providing artists a collaborative environment through which they could work on their art.

Rufus Wainwright then took the stage, starting off with his song "Grey Gardens," which seemed particularly appropriate for the occasion, and then going into "Faux," also sung in French from his opera "Prima Donna." "This is the final aria," he explained. "There is a part in it where it seems like it's over, but it's not," he said, "I know everybody is going to want to clap, but please hold off until you're sure," he joked.

"I'd like also to thank my family, the Wainwright family, for coming out from East Hampton," he said between songs. "There are quite a few of them here tonight, but they haven't seen me in awhile since I was on Shelter Island growing up."

Among the more celebrated concert-goers were (left) Mary Louise Parker and Lisa Anastos, (center) Elettra Wiedemann and Isabella Rossellini and (right) Angelica Huston. Photos courtesy of Patrick McMullan.com

He then invited his sister Martha up on stage to join him in an up-tempo number from his self-titled album entitled "Beauty Mark." At one point during the song, glimmers of sunlight began to peek through the clouds and into the field house. "I have to say," he said to the amusement of the audience, "it often suns when I play."

After a series of songs in quick succession, Rufus turned the stage over to Norah Jones, who sang three songs, including one new and humorous tune about the conflict of dating a vegetarian, before engaging in a series of collaborations with Rufus, Martha, and their mother Kate. "It's such an honor to sing with such a wonderful artist," he said of Jones, as the pair launched into Rufus' beautiful and haunting rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

The final set culminated in a compelling version of "Heartbreak Hotel," with all three artists and Kate belting out the lyrics in a true tour de force that left the audience floored. As guests trickled out of the venue, some to attend the after party held at Lisa de Kooning's house in East Hampton, everybody agreed that it was a wonderful evening - not just because the impending Tropical Storm failed to materialize, but because of the truly fantastic performances they had just witnessed.

A SRO crowed showed up at the lower school campus of The Ross School for this year's "Last Songs of Summer" concert to benefit Robert Wilson's Watermill Center.