Over 200,000 attendees of the festival had a unique experience on Saturday night as Lizzo, the popular pop star, rapper, and skilled flautist, graced Glastonbury's main stage. During her highly anticipated performance, Lizzo incorporated motifs from a beloved Mozart masterpiece, The Magic Flute.
With her flute amplified, Lizzo skillfully played the main theme from the overture of The Magic Flute, captivating the audience. Another flute joined in a harmonious counterpoint, creating a beautiful musical interplay. Lizzo concluded this operatic interlude with a trill, seamlessly transitioning into her hit song 'Truth Hurts,' which was released in 2019.
The sight of thousands of audience members clapping along to the staccato rhythms of Mozart's composition was truly remarkable. Lizzo often seizes the opportunity to celebrate her classical and woodwind background during her pop performances and celebrity appearances. At the 2023 Met Gala, she even had a duet with her flute idol, Sir James Galway. A year prior, she serenaded the entertainment world with a performance of Debussy on the red carpet.
Lizzo is recognized for reigniting interest in the flute and woodwind repertoire, and judging by social media reactions, her Glastonbury performance only further fueled the flute fever. Interestingly, classical music has a long-standing presence at Glastonbury. The festival's origins can be traced back to the 1910s and 1920s when it was primarily an opera and song celebration curated by English composer Rutland Boughton. These gatherings featured works by renowned composers such as Wagner and Purcell, as well as lectures and recitals. Even Edward Elgar, the famous composer, attended and was an avid supporter.
Although the opera-focused events ceased in 1926, the festival we know today, with its broader musical spectrum and occasional muddy conditions, started in 1970. Classical music, jazz, and ballet elements often find their place within the festival's welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring musical lineup—a tradition that Lizzo contributed to on Saturday night.
