The transpartisan powerhouse duo has attracted national media attention - and controversy. Human-rights activists are talking of protesting because of Rice's involvement in approving the government's interrogation techniques.
For now, the Philadelphia concert, a benefit for the Mann's educational programs, is their sole planned outing.
"Let's see what we think after this one is over," said Franklin, who hatched the idea after discovering, in essence, that Rice was as intimate with Brahms' Piano Quintet in F minor as she was with "Uncertain Allegiance: The Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak Army, 1948-1983" (her dissertation).
"I was reading some article, and I read that Ms. Rice was a classical pianist, and I said, 'A classical pianist?' " recalled Franklin. "That was a stretch from what we all knew about her, so I had my secretary pick up some of her recordings, and I did like what I heard. So I said, 'I sing arias, she plays classical,' and we could raise money for something. There are people in such dire need today, so many people. We need to raise some money and contribute to our favorite and most needy charities."
Rice didn't need convincing.
"I couldn't pass up an opportunity to perform with the Queen of Soul. I've been a huge fan for all of my life," said Rice, who has returned to Stanford University as a professor of business and political science after an eight-year leave to serve as President George W. Bush's national security adviser and then secretary of state. "We first met at a White House dinner and started talking, and one thing led to another."
The idea was handed to Princeton Entertainment, a tour producer with big-name acts such as Andrea Bocelli, Cher, and the Irish Tenors, which took the idea to the Mann.
