December 29, 2022

Was it just me, or was last night a rather significant evening for classical music? I’m referring to the Kennedy Center Honors show on prime-time network TV.
 
Among all the televised awards shows, the Kennedy Center Honors do seem to stand apart for the emphasis put on art itself and the importance of art in society. As such, the classical music component has seemed to get a greater than usual share of the programming spotlight over the years as compared to other awards shows.
 
Last night, composer Tania León was honored along with U2, George Clooney, Gladys Knight, and Amy Grant. To be honest, I was wondering how they would work Ms. León’s music into a program featuring performances of people like Garth Brooks, Brandi Carlisle, Sheryl Crow and other mega-pop stars.
 
The answer was, they brought it head on. We heard significant portions of three works of hers, performed live and very compellingly. The works selected were perfect for the occasion. Dance was brought into the mix at one point, not only as an artistic element, but also as a nod to Ms. León’s work as a founding member of the Dance Theater of Harlem. I have to think everyone in the hall and those (like my wife and me) watching at home on TV were captivated by the power of this music and the performances.
 
Also significant was the ethnic diversity of the performing forces. The overwhelming majority of the performers of her music that night were of African descent which not only served to acknowledge Ms. León’s ancestry (she is the first person of color as a classical composer to be honored), but also to show the world the wealth and depth of talent in the Black classical music community.
 
It was a beautiful evening and an offering well worth noting and remembering for those of us presenting classical music events in the 21st century.  Congratulations to Ms. León and to the Kennedy Center for such compelling and engaging television, during prime time no less!
 
#kennedycenter #kennedyscenterhonors # TaniaLeón #tanialeon #classicalmusic