The Grammy award-winning singer, who trained as a flautist since the age of 10, was given special permission by The Library of Congress to play the instrument.
She commented that “It’s like playing out of a wine glass” and after playing a few notes said “I just twerked and played James Madison’s flute from the 1800s!” before handing it back to a representative who put it back in its case.
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Later sharing a video of her performance on Instagram, Lizzo wrote: “I’M THE FIRST AND ONLY PERSON TO PLAY THIS PRESIDENTIAL CRYSTAL FLUTE”
The flute may have been played in public before, but only on a rare occasion, a spokesperson for the Library of Congress told the BBC.
The instrument was crafted by a French fluter in 1813, made in honour of Madison’s second inauguration. It is said that the crystal flute is one of only a few valuable items saved from the White House by first lady Dolley Madison when she fled the invasion of the British troops in 1814.
