The talented singer, rapper, songwriter, and classically trained flutist, Lizzo surprised her fans this past Tuesday at her Washington, DC concert with a historic performance- playing former president James Madison’s 200-year-old crystal flute.
NOBODY HAS EVER HEARD THIS FAMOUS CRYSTAL FLUTE BEFORE
NOW YOU HAVE
IM THE FIRST & ONLY PERSON TO EVER PLAY THIS PRESIDENTIAL 200-YEAR-OLD CRYSTAL FLUTE— THANK YOU @librarycongress ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VgXjpC49sO
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) September 28, 2022
“I just twerked and played James Madison’s crystal flute from the 1800s,” Lizzo told her audience. “We just made history tonight.”
Carla D. Hayden, the first African American and first woman to lead the Library of Congress had reach out to Lizzo on twitter after finding out about her upcoming DC concert.
The @librarycongress has the largest flute collection in the world with more than 1,800. It incl Pres James Madison’s 1813 crystal flute. @lizzo we would love for you to come see it and even play a couple when you are in DC next week. Like your song they are “Good as hell.”😉 pic.twitter.com/2FkUFZfIYh
— Carla Hayden (@LibnOfCongress) September 23, 2022
“IM COMING CARLA! AND IM PLAYIN THAT CRYSTAL FLUTE!!!!!” Lizzo responded.
The Grammy-winning artist has been playing the flute since she was a child. As a college student, she played in the University of Houston marching band. She even performed online with the New York Philharmonic orchestra during the pandemic.
A symbolic and historical moment for Lizzo, an incredibly talented Black artist, playing an instrument that had once belonged to a founding father of this nation whose Virgina plantation was built by enslaved Black workers.
James Madison when he heard Lizzo was the first person to play his crystal flute pic.twitter.com/tBXsZPHcdE
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 28, 2022
“Thank you to the Library of Congress for preserving our history and making history freaking cool. History is freaking cool, you guys.” Lizzo told her cheering fans after handing off the instrument.
