Lizzo performs priceless 200-year-old crystal flute that belonged to James Madison

Lizzo made historical past at a live performance on Tuesday – by enjoying a 200-year-old flute that when belong to President James Madison. The 34-year-old singer – who is thought for being a proficient flautist – bought the chance to play the priceless crystal flute in Washington, D.C., the place the historic instrument occurs to dwell.

The Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest cultural establishment and the analysis arm of Congress, is residence to the world’s oldest flute assortment. When librarian Carla Hayden noticed Lizzo was coming to D.C. to carry out, she merely tweeted on the star concerning the flute assortment. 

“Like your tune, they’re ‘Good as hell,'” she wrote, quoting Lizzo’s single “Good as Hell.”

Lizzo, whose actual title is Melissa Jefferson, retweeted the librarian and accepted a suggestion to see the gathering: “IM COMING CARLA! AND I’M PLAYIN THAT CRYSTAL FLUTE!!!!!” she tweeted. 

On Monday, Lizzo confirmed up on the Library of Congress and took a tour of the flute assortment. The crystal flute was made for Madison by Claude Laurent, who was a clockmaker however had an curiosity in flutes, according to the Library of Congress. 

While most flutes had been made from wooden or ivory, Laurent invented the glass flute, and because it held its pitch and tone higher, it grew to become standard. But as a result of Laurent was nearly the one individual making glass flutes, they ultimately pale in reputation and solely 185 are recognized to exist at the moment. 

The glass flute within the Library of Congress assortment was nearly destroyed in April 1814, when the British entered Washington, D.C. in the course of the War of 1812. However, first girl Dolley Madison rescued it from the White House.

Lizzo not solely toured the gathering, however she practiced playing the iconic flute on the Library’s Great Hall. The subsequent day, it was time for her to play the relic for 1000’s of her followers at Capitol One Arena.

The flute was fastidiously and securely transported to the world and library curator Carol Lynn Ward-Bamford walked it out on stage. “This work by a workforce of backstage professionals enabled an enraptured viewers to be taught concerning the Library’s treasures in an thrilling method,” Library of Congress mentioned.

Lizzo defined the backstory to the flute and admitted she was scared to understand it. “It’s crystal, it is like enjoying out of a wine glass,” she informed the group.

She performed a number of notes and declared: “We simply made historical past tonight!”