A Not-So-Odd Musical Couple

Wall Street Journal ^ | 7-29-10 | WILL FRIEDWALD

[afraidfortherepublic]

The joint performance here of Aretha Franklin and Condoleezza Rice could be described as being driven by the political concept of "equal time." Ms. Franklin's most visible recent appearance was singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" at the Obama inaugural, so it's only fair that she should sing it again in the company of a prominent Republican.

~snip~

This once-in-a-lifetime collaboration occurred Tuesday night at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Fairmount Park, where Ms. Franklin and Ms. Rice each performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and, briefly, together. ...~snip~... both artists donated their services.

~snip~

Ms. Rice (whose first name is taken from the musical expression "Con dolcezza," meaning "with sweetness") is one of the best-known amateur classical pianists in the world. ~snip~ She began Tuesday's show with Leonard Bernstein's overture to "Candide," followed by Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor (K. 466), and Smetana's "The Moldau" (from "Má vlast").

~snip~

Ms. Franklin took over for the second half, opening with three iconic signature hits: "Respect," "You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman)" and "Think."

~snip~

She was on stage for an hour and 45 minutes, fairly radiant in light-blue satin. Full of energy, at once a superstar diva and a Baptist preacher, she continually encouraged the crowd to sing along with her or at least react in some way.

~snip~

The promised collaboration with Condoleezza Rice was somewhat anticlimactic: I was expecting a voice and piano duet (on the blues or lieder, no one would have cared). Instead, all Ms. Rice did was read and play the piano part on Ms. Franklin's arrangement of "I Say A Little Prayer," without so much as a solo.

~snip~

[afraidfortherepublic]

ping

[HiTech RedNeck]

A shame that they couldn’t agree to come together with what each does best, Condi playing and Aretha singing. Condi played an instrumental written by Aretha? Lame.

[iowamark]

[I cannot think of a name]

My humble theory has been and remains that the plan was:

GWB would win a second term and Condoleezza Rice would become Secretary of State. After the mid terms, Dick C would retire health reasons, and Ms Rice would become VP, thereby setting up a nearly unbeatable candidate in 2008 (woman, black).

I believe after her rather bruising confirmation hearings, Ms Rice decided she wanted no part of politics, and the plan fell apart. Unfortunately, no plan B existed.

And before the flaming starts, I have no idea how good of President she would have been, but considering what we are stuck with, she would have had a hard time being worse.

[Da Coyote]

I’ve always thought a lot of Ms Rice. I cannot blame her for not entering politics, however.

Both parties appear to use a filter which allows only the most mediocre of individuals to pass (with some notable exceptions - of course - on the conservative side of the aisle).

Condi was one of those notable (and very pleasant) exceptions.

[stylecouncilor]

Here's some video of it: Fmr. Secy of State Plays With Queen of Soul

[MEGoody]

I have no idea how good of President she would have been, but considering what we are stuck with, she would have had a hard time being worse.

Amen. Donald Duck could do a better job than the buffoon currently occupying the oval office.

[ClarenceThomasfan]

I wish Condi were president right now instead of Obummer

[I cannot think of a name]

I think we've also learned that she is a VERY private person.

Any of the news networks would have paid a ton for a articulate black woman - yet she chose to nearly retire from public life. Sometimes I think we need a draft for presidents - because the ones that “want” the job are not typically the people we'd want for the job.

[Jedidah]

I agree. I’ve thought the same thing.

[I cannot think of a name]

“Donald Duck could do a better job”

If Donald Duck was on the ticket in ‘08, I sure couldn't find his name! The only choice I has was between McLame and Zero, so I held my nose and voted for McLame.

It would sure be wonderful to have someone that actually had a chance to win, and that you actually liked, to vote for.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

I wish Condi were president right now instead of Obummer

She said her ideal job was commissioner of the NFL. I'd take her over that mush-mouth PC goon Godell anyday!

[sitetest]

Dear afraidfortherepublic,

Thanks for the ping!

Classical Music Ping List ping! If you want on or off this list, let me know via FR e-mail.

Thanks,

sitetest

[Borges]

Goodell has done a pretty good job in cleaning up the NFL. He’s enforced the behavior code pretty stringently.

[smalltownslick]

“A shame that they couldn’t agree to come together with what each does best, Condi playing and Aretha singing. Condi played an instrumental written by Aretha? Lame.”

Well, Aretha didn’t write “I Say a Little Prayer,” Burt Bacharach did. That aside, I believe Aretha has quite a bit of the diva problem, and that’s probably all she would allow Condi to do. (I seem to recall some shenanigans with Aaron Neville over the Star Spangled Banner in Detroit.)

[fml]

Aretha looked fairly radiant

ouch