Secretary of State John Kerry and Eliot Fisk
Evening with John Kerry and Eliot Fisk
Eliot Fisk performing at John Kerry’s private residence.
On January 30 of 2015, by special invitation of US Secretary of State John Kerry, Eliot Fisk performed at the Secretary’s private residence in Boston at a special reception for eminent diplomats from Canada and Mexico. Eliot describes the occasion like this:
“Of all the famous people I have met Secretary Kerry was perhaps the kindest and most generous. He did not just treat me kindly, he was kind to EVERYONE. Any person in that house in whatever capacity was treated by the Secretary with the same respect and kindness as the diplomats he was hosting.
When I was ushered into his elegant dining room to play, the Secretary stood up and came towards me with a big smile saying, “I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time! I’ve learned a lot from you!”
I was completely amazed because although he had long given us a lovely tribute for use in publicizing Boston Guitar Fest I really had no idea if that was just basic politeness or if he actually was aware of my work.
Of course I responded “What are you talking about? I’ve been wanting to meet YOU forever!”
Then I sat down and began to play a short selection of pieces starting with the Cueca of Barrios and continuing with the tremolo “Una Limsna por el Amor de Dios”. I’m played a few other short works concluding with the Prelude from the E major Violin Partita of Bach. At the end the Secretary requested “Recuerdos de la Alhambra” and after that we had a chance to chat as he showed me around the house for a bit.
I left for home feeling “on cloud nine” as we used to say when I was a boy.