Who is Christopher Macchio?
Meet the Opera Tenor Singing the National Anthem at the Inauguration
Opera tenor Christopher Macchio will sing the national anthem at the President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration before a much smaller crowd than he was expecting, a letdown with a silver lining.
A Changed Ceremony
The ceremony Monday has been moved indoors because temperatures are set to plummet and make it the coldest Inauguration Day in 40 years. The Capitol Rotunda holds only 600 people, while more than 250,000 guests were ticketed to view the inauguration from around the Capitol grounds.
A Silver Lining
“I was looking forward to seeing 100,000 people spread across the National Mall,” Macchio, 46, said Saturday in an Associated Press interview. “Unfortunately I won’t be getting that visual while I perform, but it’s still going to be such a tremendous honor.”
A Musical Perspective
In fact, he said, “from a musical and vocal perspective, it’s actually a good thing” and that the performance will remain largely the same. Extreme weather conditions are unhealthy and uncomfortable for vocalists.
A Long Association with Trump
Macchio first entered Trump’s orbit about nine years ago when he was asked to fill in last minute for a New Year’s Eve celebration. He was such a hit that night that Rod Stewart, who was at the gala, asked Macchio to perform at his 70th birthday party. Macchio also sang at the White House memorial service in 2020 for Trump’s brother Robert, and that’s where their friendship took hold.
A Call to Perform
Macchio performed at the Republican National Convention in July, at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in October a few months after an assassination attempt at that site, and during his Madison Square Garden rally close to the election. It was after the Butler rally that Trump said to Macchio: “I’ll be seeing you at the inauguration.”
A Message of Unity
Macchio knows that some people have negative opinions on his long association with and support of Trump. But he hopes that even those who disagree with Trump politically can appreciate the music.
Conclusion
For those folks who might not have voted for President Trump, I hope that they’ll give me that kind of opportunity to just listen and just really connect with the music,” he said. “I’ll be doing the national anthem and it is meant to do honor to our great country.”
FAQs
Q: How did Christopher Macchio get involved with Trump’s inauguration?
A: Macchio was asked to fill in last minute for a New Year’s Eve celebration about nine years ago, and Trump asked him to perform at his 70th birthday party. They became friends and Macchio was asked to perform at the inauguration.
Q: What does Macchio hope to achieve with his performance?
A: Macchio hopes that even those who disagree with Trump politically can appreciate the music and give him an opportunity to connect with the country.
Q: What is Macchio’s approach to the national anthem?
A: Macchio will deliver a straightforward rendition, with a focus on the high notes.
