Kennedy Center Grand Opening: A Night of Art, Hope, and Tribute in 1971

The Grand Opening of the Kennedy Center

• 🏛️ The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts officially opened its doors on September 8, 1971, marking the dedication of another presidential memorial in Washington.
• 🌟 The evening was described as a unique, beautiful, and inspiring event, with a non-stop list of VIPs in attendance.

Leonard Bernstein's "Mass"

• 🎶 The inaugural performance was Leonard Bernstein's "Mass," a work that aimed to communicate a sense of hope, happiness, and even fear in a creative way.
• 🎭 The "Mass" was characterized as a magnificent, moving, beautiful, and exciting performance, encompassing elements of dance, symphony, protest rally, and total theater.
• 🎤 Many attendees found the performance to be a great tribute, reflecting feelings of interest, devotion, penitence, and hope.

Reflections on President Kennedy and the Arts

• 🇺🇸 The "Mass" was seen by some as reflecting the feelings of President Kennedy, who filled the nation with hope and anticipation for great advances, built upon a basic faith in America.
• 💡 It was believed that President Kennedy, who was keenly interested in art and new ideas, would have approved of the center providing an opportunity to experience new concepts in music and the arts.
• 🗣️ The performance was intended to stimulate audiences and encourage them to carry these ideas back to their communities across the United States.

Audience and Family Reactions

• ❤️ Rose Kennedy, JFK's mother, felt the "Mass" sincerely reflected her son's feelings and conveyed a sense of great expectations, optimism, love, and affection for one another.
• 🎭 Attendees described the experience as stupendous, overwhelming, and a thrilling total theater experience, with some expressing a desire to see it multiple times.
• 🌟 The Kennedy family, including Ethel Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy, were present, with President Nixon notably absent to allow the family full opportunity to observe the program.

The Cultural Impact of the Center

• 🌍 The Kennedy Center is seen as a great asset for Washington, providing a cultural hub that will attract young people and expose them to the arts alongside government.
• 🚀 The hope is that the center will exhibit the best in American culture and serve as a fitting start towards that goal, making the arts available to the people.
• ✨ The building itself, with its three halls, was praised for its beautiful design and the overwhelming emotional and artistic experience it offered.