We are delighted to confirm that Annie Lennox performed live today at a ceremony honouring Desmond Tutu, the former Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, as he was presented with the 2013 Templeton Prize at a ceremony in London’s Guildhall.
Annie performed three songs live: ‘Don’t Let It Bring You Down’ and ‘Many Rivers To Cross’, (both solo on piano) followed by ‘Lean on Me’ accompanied by Grammy award-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre’s 24 strong choir and members of the London African Gospel Choir.
The £1.1 million award has been made in recognition of Tutu’s lifelong work in advancing spiritual principles such as love and forgiveness which have helped to liberate people around the world. The award will be presented by Heather Templeton Dill representing the John Templeton Foundation.
The Templeton Prize has been the world’s largest annual monetary award given to an individual for the past 40 years. Tutu joins a distinguished group of 42 former recipients including last year’s Laureate, the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. It celebrates living persons who have made an exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery, or practical works.
www.templetonprize.org
Check back later for more details and images from this event.