Happy 25th Anniversary to A Capitol Fourth (and the USA)

Maybe the threshold for patriotism should be maneuvering to and through A Capitol Fourth, because it does take Herculean efforts for regular Americans. Here’s a special collection of information from PBS in honor of the 25th performance (I can’t actually tell what year that was, but it did start before 1983). It’s only my 25th anniversary of having been at A Capitol Fourth.

According to this musical history reference:

1983- National Symphony Orchestra conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, shirtless, dances the bunny hop on the Capitol grounds and Wayne Newton performs that evening on the Mall (Washington Post, 5 July 1983, C1)

I remember thinking, only Nancy Reagan would select Wayne Newton for the Fourth of July, but I loved Rostropovich both as a conducter and a cellist.

It was a typically hot, humid day with sun and showers on and off. I went to the Mall with one girl-friend from college and four or five interns from California who were living in the same Georgetown on-campus apartment complex that my friend and I lived in. My clearest memory is being on an esplanade of the Capitol and, when it rained (which it did periodically), we would duck into the arches.

Here’s this year’s program (which you can watch on PBS this evening) (Jimmy Smits hosts and Ohio’s own Erich Kunzel conducts the NSO ) (Smits did a great show on the Diane Rehm show yesterday):

A Capitol Fourth in High Definition

Live on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol
Friday, July 4th, from 8:00 to 9:30 pm ET
(check local listings)
Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning film, theater and television actor Jimmy Smits hosts the 28th annual broadcast of America’s biggest and best-loved 4th of July concert on PBS, featuring unrivaled musical performances from some of the country’s best known and award-winning artists, as well as a spectacular fireworks display on the National Mall over the Washington Monument. Grammy winners Huey Lewis and the News, American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, rock ‘n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell, classical superstar Hayley Westenra and soprano Harolyn Blackwell will perform a selection of patriotic and celebratory music with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Erich Kunzel. Olympic Gold Medal winner Scott Hamilton will lead a tribute to Team USA members competing in Bejing including, Bob Malaythong – Badminton, Tim Morehouse – Fencing, Nancy Rios – Sailing, Dominic Grazioli – Shooting, Eli Bremer – Modern Pentathlon, Kendrick Farris – Weightlifting, Jake Deitchler – Wrestling, Jessica Long – USA Paralympics, Swimming. The July 4th concert finale includes Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” – an audience favorite and now A Capitol Fourth tradition – featuring the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery. The Choral Arts Society of Washington, under the direction of Norman Scribner, returns to the show. The Joint Armed Forces Color Guard of the Military District of Washington will also be featured on this as well as the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.