Regular readers may recall that back in April, Booker Rising mentioned that Aretha Franklin (a liberal Democrat) and Condoleezza Rice (a moderate-conservative Republican) were joining forces to raise funds for music education for poor children. The charity concert (with the Philadelphia Orchestra) happened last night in Philadelphia:
Ms. Rice is a classically trained pianist who considered becoming a professional musician before opting in college to specialize in studying the former Soviet Union. She was greeted with cheers and a few boos when she played a nine-minute program with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Now a political science professor at Stanford University, Ms. Rice played a duet with Ms. Franklin on "Say a Little Prayer for You", which Ms. Franklin introduced by saying: "You didn't think she could play it, right?" Ms. Franklin also ran through classics including "Respect," "Chain of Fools", and "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman." Also, an opera aria or two.
The benefit performance - which was attended by 8,000 people - was expected to raise $580,000 for an annual program that allows poor kids to attend concerts and master classes at Philadelphia's Mann Music Center for the Performing Arts.
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