Lizzo Played a 200-Year-Old Crystal Flute Owned by President Madison – CNET

Footage of Lizzo playing a 200-year-old crystal flute owned by President James Madison emerged earlier this week. So how did she come to have the priceless instrument?

The Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, last week found out Lizzo would be performing in Washington DC for a concert. The library has the world’s largest flute collection, and Hayden tweeted to Lizzo that she should visit and see them all.

“IM COMING CARLA! AND IM PLAYIN THAT CRYSTAL FLUTE!!!!!” Lizzo responded.

Lizzo, a classically trained flautist, practiced with several flutes during her visit to the Library of Congress, but it was the crystal flute she borrowed for her concert. The flute was made for President Madison by Claude Laurent, a French craftsman, and rescued from the White House by First Lady Dolley Madison in 1814 when the British entered Washington DC.

In response to concerns that such an old, priceless artifact should not be played, the Library of Congress reassured that measures had been taken.

“For those concerned about the flute: Music Division curators made sure it could be played without damage,” the Library of Congress tweeted. “This sort of thing is not all that unusual, in fact. Some of the Library’s priceless instruments were donated with the stipulation that they remain functional & be played.”

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