At the rehearsal of the 2013 July 4 Capitol Concert on July 3, Neil Diamond sang the premiere of his Freedom Song: They'll Never Take Us Down composed in honor of the 2013 Boston Marathon victims, first responders, and the city's recovery. He also sang Sweet Caroline/Patricia Leslie
Not to miss on PBS tonight at 8 p.m. EST!
Washington, D.C. for all its bad has a lot of good at the U.S. Capitol, and one of the best is the July 4 Capitol concert which, after attending last night, I vow not to miss again. It would be hard to top free Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, and John Williams performances, and Barry sang a lot more than an expected one or two patriotic songs.
The Choral Arts Society of Washington, the National Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, cannons (the U.S. Army Presidential Salute Battery) and fireworks shot off behind the Congressional office buildings made the evening an unforgettable experience. Bravo!
The next inaugural committee might consider hiring Barry Manilow who did not lip sync, but wowed thousands at the July 4, 2013 Capitol Concert rehearsal with his eternally energetic and distinctive voice. He invited members of the crowd to join him in singing, and he held the microphone for some individuals to sing a few seconds of solo which delighted the audience and proved how magnetic his voice and stage presence are. Barry Manilow is 70 years old/Patricia Leslie
(My friend says to me: "Ah, um....isn't Barry Manilow kind of smaltzy?" And I say to my friend: "I wouldn't mind schmaltzing with him.")
Barry Manilow at the rehearsal of the 2013 July 4 Capitol Concert. He sang I Write the Songs That Make the Young Girls Cry, It's a Miracle, Can't Smile Without You, Could It Be Magic?, Let Freedom Ring/Patricia Leslie
Members of the Broadway cast of Motown: The Musical sang Get Ready, but they weren't. They were the only performers who exhibited lack of rehearsal for the rehearsal. Behind the jumbotron is what looks like a jumbo pencil but is the Washington Monument under repair/Patricia Leslie
Michelle Obama might do well to use Darren Criss in her Move It! weight loss campaign for it was easy for him to get audience members on their feet and shaking tail feathers with his dynamic Shout! backed up by Patrick Lundy and the Ministers of Music/Patricia Leslie
At the foot of the steps to the U.S. Capitol it was hard to keep still when Darren Criss belted out Shout!/Patricia Leslie
Jackie Evancho sang an electric Star-Spangled Banner. Other performers were Christopher Martin, Megan Hilty, Scotty McCreery, and Candice Glover/Patricia Leslie
This is what the stage looked like about 75 minutes before show time/Patricia Leslie
Union Station was bedecked in July 4 regalia/Patricia Leslie
Before the concert rehearsal started, these folks at the foot of the U.S. Capitol steps did what Washingtonians like to do: read, eat, and lay on concrete to stake out space and rest before the really big show/Patricia Leslie
The view from the Capitol steps/Patricia Leslie
The Embassy of Canada celebrates July 4 with Canadian flags/Patricia Leslie
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