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| Iraqi Symphony Performs for Bush | |
| 2003-12-10 | |
| Followup. Severely EFL. The Iraqi National Symphony performed for President Bush and a large audience Tuesday night, presenting another side of the nation whose image is shaped by daily reports of combat and death. Didn’t know GWB would be there. Bravo for him. The 63-member Iraqi group was joined by the Washington National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Leonard Slatkin, music director of the Washington Symphony, shared the stage with Iraqi conductor Mohammed Amin Ezzat in leading the combined orchestra through six pieces, one composed by Ezzat. Cello virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma also performed with the orchestras. Secretary of State Colin Powell called the performance the "historic re-entry of the Iraqi culture on the world stage." He hosted the performance, which was sponsored by State Department. Top members of the Bush administration and Rend Rahim, Iraq’s representative in Washington, joined Bush in the presidential box. The orchestra’s members include players of both Islam’s main sects, Shiite and Sunni, and of Kurdish, Armenian, Assyrian, Iraqi Christian and Turkman descent. Golly gosh, you don’t suppose Iraqi society could end up performing together like this?
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #18 Uday obviously wasn't in charge of the symphony. Their fingers still work correctly. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-12-10 5:58:43 PM |
| #17 .......Sen Byrd, while playing a washboard outside the venue was quoted as saying "that Yo-Yo Ma plays pretty good, didn't know oriental's could a civilized instrument," at that point, the Senator asked if anyone was interested in hearing his rendition of "the Wreck of the Old 97."........ |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2003-12-10 2:09:35 PM |
| #16 I've got a cousin that plays the fiddle in a band in Louisiana. When he strikes off with "Orange Blossom Special", it'll bring a tear to your eye! When his wife joins in, things really get moving! |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-12-10 1:51:57 PM |
| #15 Steve. I am almost certain. See, Sen Byrd was outside actually playing "Orange Blossom Special" on the washboard. |
| Posted by: Dragon Fly 2003-12-10 9:21:18 AM |
| #14 Ok, I take my lumps on the typ DragonFly, you sure that wasn't Senator Byrd (D-KKK)? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-12-10 9:16:06 AM |
| #13 Later, Sen. Graham was overheard asking the violinist if he could play his "fiddle." Something about a "Fox on the Run"... |
| Posted by: Dragon Fly 2003-12-10 8:46:10 AM |
| #12 ......it was reported that during an interlude in the performance someone in the audience was yelling "play Skynryd!". Later, a seemingly innebriated Sen. Graham was reportedly being seen escorted from the theater....... |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2003-12-10 8:40:33 AM |
| #11 ah..nothing like waking up to a good cup of coffee and a good laugh at rantburg. Unless of course, you are "Anonymous" - poor little fella missed the bus. I'm sure Stevestra-d will find the humor once he sleeps |
| Posted by: B 2003-12-10 8:26:10 AM |
| #10 I like how he called a national symphony a "minstrel show". Racist much, Stevey? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-12-10 8:21:18 AM |
| #9 Up late or early and sober? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-12-10 7:12:21 AM |
| #8 IRAQIS PERFORM FOR bUSH AHAHAH on goes the minstrel show. I just hope American taxpayers are not footing their hotel bills at the Astoria. Screw them and their music..i aint paying their way. But then again i am |
| Posted by: stevestradamus 2003-12-10 7:08:57 AM |
| #7 I fixed the typo. So there. |
| Posted by: Fred 2003-12-10 7:03:06 AM |
| #6 No it hasn't. Its great that they are playing. Its just that the typo is fun to poke at. |
| Posted by: Ben 2003-12-10 5:20:55 AM |
| #5 *Shakes head* The significance of this article has gone way over your heads, and all because of a typo... |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-12-10 5:09:10 AM |
| #4 Did they ride Bus to the concert? |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-12-10 1:53:20 AM |
| #3 "Welcome to Washington, Iraqi National Orchestra members. You can set up right here on the marble plaza...President Bus will be along any moment!" |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2003-12-10 1:33:25 AM |
| #2 Ah, but did the bus sing back? |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-12-10 1:32:03 AM |
| #1 Accck! It's "Bush", not "Bus" in the title. Fred, a little help? Thanks. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-12-10 1:16:23 AM |