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Arts & Culture

A Capitol Fourth 2011

The all-star line-up for "A Capitol Fourth 2011" includes (from left to right) Steve Martin, Jordin Sparks, Jimmy Smits, Josh Groban and Kelli O'Hara.
Courtesy of Capital Concerts
The all-star line-up for "A Capitol Fourth 2011" includes (from left to right) Steve Martin, Jordin Sparks, Jimmy Smits, Josh Groban and Kelli O'Hara.

Airs Monday, July 4, 2011 at 8 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. on KPBS TV

America’s biggest and brightest birthday party, "A Capitol Fourth," features unrivaled musical performances by some of the country’s best known and award-winning musicians in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

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Broadcast in high definition before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, on National Public Radio and around the world to our troops on the American Forces Network, the annual broadcast brings viewers the most spectacular fireworks display anywhere in the nation.

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"A Capitol Fourth" will capture the stunning pyrotechnics from every vantage point with 20 television cameras stationed around the city – including the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the Washington Monument and across the Potomac River.

The show will be capped off with a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and now "A Capitol Fourth" tradition.

Also participating in the event will be The Choral Arts Society of Washington, along with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, the U.S. Air Force Ceremonial Band, members of the armed forces carrying the state and territorial flags and the Joint Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

"A Capitol Fourth" is on Facebook.

Watch the full episode. See more A Capitol Fourth.

"A Capitol Fourth" will capture the stunning pyrotechnics from every vantage point with 20 television cameras stationed around the city – including the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the Washington Monument and across the Potomac River.