매년 미국의 공연예술 발전에 기여한 예술계 인사들에게 수여되는 올해 미국 예술가상 수상자로 가수 토니 베넷씨가 선정됐습니다. 이로써 베넷씨는 자신의 유명 힛트곡 중 하나인 The good life의 삶을 살게 됐습니다.
4일밤 워싱톤 디씨내 케네디쎈터에서 열린 예술가상 시상식에는 다섯명의 문화계 인사들이 올해 예술가상을 수상했습니다 토니 베넷씨외에 영화 배우 로버트 레드포드와 , 줄리 헤리스, 가수 티나 터너, 발레 댄서 수잔 파렐씨도 올해 수상자로 선정됐습니다.
부시 대통령은 이들 다섯명은 인사들에게 전세계가 경탄할 훌륭한 본을 세웠다며 경의를 표했습니다.
(영문)
The American singer was living "The Good Life" -- (which is also) the title of one of his signature songs -- when he received this country's top award for a lifetime of excellence in the performing arts. Five entertainers were awarded with the annual Kennedy Center Honors late Sunday.
President Bush, Vice President Cheney and their wives were at the ceremony here in Washington, along with an audience filled with glittering stars of stage, screen and television. Actors Robert Redford and Julie Harris, singer Tina Turner and ballet dancer Suzanne Farrell joined (the 89-year-old) Bennett on the honors list. The president saluted the five stars for setting "a standard of excellence that is admired throughout the world." "All of them," Mr. Bush added, "have earned a unique place in the cultural life of the United States." Musicians, actors and dancers performed selections from the honorees' work -- including "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," a song that became Bennett's trademark more than 40 years ago.
The annual honors bestowed by the Kennedy Center (the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performance Arts) are seen as the equivalent of knighthood in Britain, or membership in France's Legion of Honor.