White House image by Dan Kessler, kesslerart.com
2. Winter in the White House
This embedded YouTube clip is almost All-American.
An American President (Jimmy Carter) invites a world renowned American opera singer (Leontyne Price) to the White House and she sings a new song composed for her by an American composer (Dominick Argento) and the president had the concert filmed to be broadcast out to all you, the American people. But here is the rub: Does the American composer set an Emily Dickinson poem? Does he set a Robert Frost poem? Does he set a Walt Whitman poem?
He does not.
He sets … Shakespeare. I suppose that will have to do.
On this Winter’s day, treat yourself to a fabulous song sung by one of the greats. And the president is not bad either, if you consider that he continues to be a spectacular force for good in the world.
Here is a two minute clip of the moment it happened. THAT’S Music in the White House, for you.
Join us for more MUSIC IN THE WHITE HOUSE:
Saturday, January 28th, 2017 at 7:30 PM, at St. David’s Episcopal Church
Sunday, January 29th, 2017 at 3:00 PM, at The Church of the Holy Trinity