skip navigation | text only | accessibility | site map
Share
Denyce Graves (Photo by Devon Cass)

A Tribute to the Grace Bumbry Concert in the Kennedy White House

One of today's most exciting vocal stars, Denyce Graves delivers a tribute to Kennedy Center Honoree Grace Bumbry's recital at the White House in 1962. Part of The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration.

This event has already closed.
Please use the event calendar to search for current events.

About

Part of The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration
 
Continuing the Kennedy Center's celebration of the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's presidential inauguration, Denyce Graves lends her immense voice to pay tribute to the landmark 1962 White House concert that introduced 25-year-old African American mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry to America. A 2009 Kennedy Center Honoree, Bumbry broke social, racial, and artistic boundaries through the simple act of singing and embodied President Kennedy's commitment to both free artistic expression and civil rights.
 
Denyce Graves, who "sings with freedom and passion in a voice that seems to get only richer and more lustrous" (The Washington Post), honors Bumbry in a performance that references her historic concert. Included on the program is Duparc's L'invitation au Voyage, a favorite work of Mrs. Kennedy, who sang along into the President's ear in harmony with Grace Bumbry. This is a tribute not to be missed.

    

Program and Notes

GLUCK
O del mio dolce ardor from Paride ed Elena
STRAUSS
 Morgen
STRAUSS
Zueignung
DUPARC
Chanson triste
DUPARC
L'Invitation au voyage
DUPARC
Le Manoir de Rosemonde
COPLAND
 Selections from Old American Songs
At the River; The Boatmen's Dance; I Bought Me a Cat
CILEA
Acerba voluttà from Adriana Lecouvreur
FALLA
Siete Canciones Populares Españolas
El Paño Moruno; Seguidilla Murciana; Asturiana; Jota; Nana (Berceuse); Canción; Polo
SAINT-SAËNS
Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix from Samson et Dalila

Related Events

American Ballet Theatre American Ballet Theatre American Ballet Theatre's elegant stars continue to prove ballet's enduring power with Ratmansky's evening-length work The Bright Stream and a mixed program as part of The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration.

The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration Opening Concert On the 50th anniversary of his inauguration, the Kennedy Center presents a special Opening Night Celebration paying tribute to the artistic legacy of President John F. Kennedy with the NSO, American Ballet Theatre, and more.

National Symphony Orchestra: Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Tzimon Barto, piano, plays Gershwin National Symphony Orchestra: Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Tzimon Barto, piano, plays Gershwin Christoph Eschenbach conducts Tzimon Barto in Gershwin's Piano Concerto. Also on the program is Remembering JFK (An American Elegy) by Peter Lieberson, with narration by Richard Dreyfuss of text taken from President Kennedy's speeches and writings.

A Tribute to the Pablo Casals Concert in the Kennedy White House A Tribute to the Pablo Casals Concert in the Kennedy White House Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Emanuel Ax join with the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio to present a tribute to cellist Pablo Casals' 1961 White House concert. Part of The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration.

The Kennedy Legacy View a screening of the documentary John F. Kennedy–Years of Lightning, Day of Drums (1965) and sit in on a panel of artists, journalists, and policy makers discussing the lasting impact of the Kennedy presidency.

All events and artists subject to change without prior notice.

Group of 20 or more? Group Sales offers special terms and discounts for most performances.

This event has already closed.

Please use the event calendar to search for current events.

Loading...