Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.kansascity.com
Anna Lapwood — aka “classical music’s reigning pop star” — is in Kansas City this week on the heels of yet another viral moment.
Lapwood, the organist for London’s Royal Albert Hall, is making pipe organ music cool for new, mainstream audiences. She’s a TikTok star with a social media following of more than 5 million fans who make her videos and livestreams of late-night rehearsals go viral.
She will perform Friday night at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Last year she became the first official organist of Royal Albert Hall, the famous concert hall Queen Victoria opened in 1871 as a tribute to her late husband, Prince Albert.
The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan have all performed in the famous venue.
Last week, it was British singer-songwriter Raye’s turn.
Raye was set to perform her biggest hit, the viral “Where Is My Husband!” Brides are now singing the song at their wedding receptions.
“Specifically, the title stemmed from feeling extremely single and just feeling genuinely like, ‘Where Is My Husband’ would be a good starting point for the vibe lyrically,” Grammy-nominated Raye told The Hollywood Reporter last month.
Lapwood told her followers she had a “silly” idea for the song.
“OK this might be the funniest thing I’ve ever done. When we were planning adding organ to Raye’s show I was like guys I have an idea,” Lapwood wrote on a video that went viral last week.
“I thought it might be too silly but decided to suggest it anyway just in case.
“What if we started Where Is My Husband with Mendelssohn’s Wedding March? I absolutely did not expect them to say yes. BUT THEY DID. And this was honestly the most hilarious thing to play live.”
She said that not only did the powers-that-be at the concert hall like the idea, “Raye asked me to extend the intro and ‘milk it,’” she wrote.
Here’s what that looked like.
An audience member posted their own video showing the moment the audience caught onto the joke and began cheering.
“So this is your sign to suggest the crazy idea,” Lapwood encouraged her followers. “This might be the coolest I’ve ever felt.”
A few tickets remain for her recital at Helzberg Hall.
Hehehehhee I love the laughter as people realise what is happening! WHAT A SHOW. @raye @royalalberthall and shoutout to the @heritageorchestra @flamescollective_ and @wakeuptom #organtok #whereismyhusband #raye #thissymphonymaycontainhope #royalalberthall
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Lisa Gutierrez
The Kansas City Star
Lisa Gutierrez has been a reporter for The Kansas City Star since 2000. She learned journalism at the University of Kansas, her alma mater. She writes about pop culture, local celebrities, trends and life in the metro through its people. Oh, and dogs. You can reach her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter – @LisaGinKC.
