Get extended access to 1600+ episodes, binge watch your favorite shows, and stream anytime - online or in the PBS app.
Already a KCOS member?
You may have an unactivated KCOS Passport member benefit. Check to see.
Clip: 03/24/2023 | 3m 5s | Video has closed captioning.
In this outtake from "J'Nai Bridges Unamplified," J'Nai prepares for her final appearance in "Written in Stone" at the Kennedy Center. The following day would be another momentous day for her, her world premiere in Adolphus Hailstork's "A Knee on the Neck." "It's been such a journey and as much as it is kind of sad to finish, I feel like a different person in a way."
Aired: 03/24/23
(J'Nai vocalizing) (piano note playing) ♪ Here in the quiet ♪ ♪ Quiet ♪ ♪ Alone ♪ ♪ Before the flock flies in ♪ ♪ I hear ♪ ♪ I hear ♪ ♪ I hear, I am here ♪ ♪ Here I am ♪ ♪ I am here ♪ (orchestral music begins) ♪ Alone with love and sin ♪ ♪ Alone with love and sin ♪ ♪ Alone with love and sin ♪ ♪ Alone with love and sin ♪ ♪ I am here ♪ ♪ I am here ♪ ♪ I am here ♪ ♪ I am here ♪ ♪ I am here ♪ ♪ I am here ♪ (orchestral music stops) ♪ Father and son, father and son ♪ ♪ I stand between them ♪ ♪ These men ♪ ♪ Son and husband ♪ (J'Nai sighing) - Tonight's bittersweet actually.
It's the final show of "Written in Stone" here at the Kennedy Center with Washington National Opera.
We've been here for now six weeks.
And it's hard to imagine the last show, you know when we first began.
But it's been such a journey and as much as it is kind of sad to finish, I feel like a different person in a way.
(people singing) Closing "Written in Stone" today and then tomorrow I sing a world premiere, another world premiere by Adolphus Hailstork, "A Knee on the Neck," which is also a very emotional piece that requires just a lot of depth.
I'm a little tired, I will admit that but right now I'm focusing on "Written in Stone" because that's what it requires, you know.
One thing at a time, one step at a time.
One moment, and one day at a time.
But right now, I am on a high and I just, I'm so grateful for this moment.
Even though it's closing night, I can't wait to be back here, and most of all just can't wait to get out on stage and do my thing.
(melodic music playing)
NEW PODCAST
How do today’s masters create their art? Each episode an artist reveals how they brought one of their iconic works to life. Hear from artists across disciplines, like singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, filmmaker John Waters, actor John David Washington, and more on our podcast "American Masters: Creative Spark."
SUBSCRIBE
