Mayor of Boston Performs Rhapsody in Blue with the Boston Pops

Elected in 2021, Michelle Wu is the first woman and person of colour to serve as mayor of Boston. On September 21st, she performed as piano soloist with the city’s legendary Boston Pops.

What’s happening: On September 21st, the Hon. Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston, performed the piano solo in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Boston Pops as part of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Concert for the City. It was Mayor Wu’s second time performing at the annual free orchestral concert. In 2023, she performed the second movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21. Her Gershwin performance was conducted by BSO conductor Keith Lockhart.

Some context: While in recent years, enthusiasm for classical music has become unusual amongst politicians, Wu’s proclivity is not without precedent. Sir Edward Heath, Prime Minister of England from 1970-1974, frequently guest conducted the London Symphony Orchestra and once performed Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos with German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.

In the mood for more? Catch former US President Harry Truman playing a bit of Mozart and Richard Nixon playing his own piano concerto, as well as former US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice playing the Beethoven Spring Sonata arranged for two pianos (quite skillfully, we might add). And let’s not forget who invented the glass harmonica that features prominently in Lucia di Lammermoor’s mad scene – none other than Benjamin Franklin.

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Sara Schabas

Sara Schabas is a Dora-nominated soprano, writer and yoga teacher. She has performed and created leading roles with companies including Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Dayton Opera, and Aspen Opera, and is a former member of Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium Young Artists. Currently based in Montreal, she is a doctoral student at McGill University — where she recently received the Wirth Vocal Prize — and editor of Art Song Canada magazine.