'08
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had one of her dreams come true. She got to play a private piano concert for the Queen of England last night. Rice is currently visiting the U.K. for the last time as secretary of state and is giving farewell speeches and saying adieu – in addition to spending some quality time with the London Symphony Orchestra. Or what the rest of us call an average Monday night.
Live from the palace – Condi Rice on piano!
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice performed in a piano quintet Monday night for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
Rice played Brahms’ Op. 34 with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s wife, Louise, on violin, and three members of the London Symphony Orchestra.
The queen gave Rice an audio recording of the performance as a gift.
Rice is a classically trained pianist who had expressed a wish to play at the palace.
She was making her final trip to Britain before President-elect Barack Obama takes office next month. On Tuesday, she gave a farewell speech to NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
[From the Huffington Post]
I have to admit, one thing that I do like about Condoleezza Rice is that she’s so well-rounded. Rarely do you see a concert level pianist who’s also a member of the President’s cabinet. Rice’s mother was a music teacher, which explains her gift. She was originally a music major in college before she switched to political science. The Telegraph notes, “At 15 she performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D minor with the Denver Symphony Orchestra .” I wonder if Hillary Clinton is going to be able to top her in that regard?
Here’s a short piece the Telegraph did on Condoleezza’s performance.
Written by JayBird
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20 Responses to “Condoleezza Rice plays piano for the Queen”
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Well, even I was impressed by that! I do wonder what Hillary Clinton will be like as SoS. She’s following some pretty strong women–Madeline Albright in her husband’s administration and now Condoleeza Rice. Only time will tell, eh?
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I always liked Condi. She’s very refined. I wonder what she really thinks of GW. The Queen Mum looks awesome!!
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Ms. Rice is a lovely and accomplished woman and a huge credit to the United States. She has served with unfailing dignity and honor.I wish her well and hope to hear about her in the future.
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Prissa, not to be stingy but the Queen Mum is dead. (‘Queen/King Mum’ is the title of the mother of the sovereign only)
Queen queen queen!
Nice to hear that Condoleezza got to play before the end!
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Well said RReedy, I agree.
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I agree with the general sentiment. She always struck me as very polished and quietly intelligent. Hope things work out for her.
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Yeah, except for all the flagrant lying.
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I know I’ve said this to daisy before, but isn’t it odd that Condi wasn’t chosen as a running mate for McCain instead of Palin. Regardless of her gender, she is generally admired for her efficiency, tact and diplomacy (not just in comparison to the disasters surrounding her). It would have put a wholly different spin on last month’s election.
I can’t remember, did she definitively put herself out of any such race like Colin Powell?
Personally, I have every confidence in Hillary, but I would recommend that she moderate her tone and try to be a bit more amenable. Politicians are easily enough led when they have to be; on the other hand staffers and civil servants have memories like elephants
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Never before was ‘Chopsticks’ rendered with such aplomb and passion for the arts.
Hell, I would have voted for McCain if the GOP had had the balls to make her his running mate instead of that bespectacled idiot wildebeest, Sarah Palin.
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Perhaps she and Hillary hope to go head to head someday for the big chair at the table. Or she truly wants to be involved in the NFL.
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9/11 happened while she was National Security Adviser and she was horrible with Russia even though her entire background was Russian affairs.
She does play the piano well though.
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hee hee “wildebeest”
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Thank you, John McCain, for making my choice of candidate easy. If he had chosen Condi it would have been a tough choice. I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of her.
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How dare you cow-tow to an inferior country!
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aw. that’s nice of condoleezza to do a charity concert for our newest european comrades on welfare.
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“isn’t it odd that Condi wasn’t chosen as a running mate for McCain instead of Palin.”
I personally was hoping she would run for President, not VP. But, she has said numerous times (and I actually believe her) that she does not want the presidency/vice presidency and refuses to run. Her stated goal has been to be the head of the NFL, of all things! She is a huge football fan and has stated many times that it would be her dream job.
She is an amazing, accomplished woman and those of you who are choosing to insult her are only suceeding in making yourselves look bad, not her.
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Wow! I never knew she was a pianist, now I admire her even more. She’s truly a well-bred woman and it was sad to see her pleasant demeanor and charm being replaced by Mrs. Clinton’s icy presence.
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