Lizzo Plays Antique Flutes During Visit to Library of Congress

Storyful
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Musician Lizzo played several flutes during a tour of the US Library of Congress on September 26, the library said, the day before she played in concert a crystal flute made in 1813 for US President James Madison.

The singer, who is a classically trained flutist, was invited to the library by Carla Hayden, the librarian of Congress. Lizzo replied in a tweet, and so the visit took place.

In video here, Lizzo is seen in the library’s flute vault, home to “the largest flute collection in the world,” according to Hayden. She also gives performances in the library’s main reading room and great hall. Credit: Library of Congress via Storyful

Video Transcript

[FLUTE MUSIC]

[APPLAUSE, CHEERING]

LIZZO: Thank you!

[FLUTE MUSIC]

All right. I'm gonna just give you the--

[FLUTE TREMOLO]

[APPLAUSE, CHEERING]

Thank you!

[FLUTE MUSIC]

[APPLAUSE, CHEERING]

[CHATTER]

- And they're going to show you everything.

LIZZO: Wow.

- Oh my goodness.

- This is where all the flutes are. The US premiere of this piece happened in the Coolidge Auditorium--

LIZZO: Wow.

- --across the street. And Rampal played it. And this is the flute that--

[LIZZO SHRIEKS]

[LAUGHTER]

LIZZO: You scared me! I can play it? Or no?

- Yes!

- You can play it.

LIZZO: I hope my lipstick doesn't--

- Does it still work?

LIZZO: Right? That's what I wanna know.

- We'll see!

- Oh.

[FLUTE MUSIC]

LIZZO: This was made a when? 15 what?

- 85.

[FLUTE MUSIC]

LIZZO: How do you play "Oochie Wally Wally on this?"

[LAUGHTER]

[FLUTE MUSIC]

[APPLAUSE, CHEERING]

[AUDIO LOGO]