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Home › Politics

Politics | 12/02/2008 7:40 am

Condi Rice Gives Queen Elizabeth a Piano Recital as a Farewell Gift (Video)

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
YouTube

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said a special good-bye to Queen Elizabeth Monday – with a song.

The American secretary of state — who is a classically trained pianist and could have become a professional musician had she not felt a higher calling to serve her country — played the piano for Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace Monday as a farewell gesture on her last trip to Britain before the Bush administration, and Rice’s tenure at the State Department, ends next month.

Rice played Johannes Brahms – a German composer from the late 1800s, considered one of the most influential composers of all time — in the palace’s music room and was accompanied on violin by Louise Miliband, the wife of Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband, along with three London Symphony Orchestra members.

Rice has always wanted to play at the palace, and she got her wish. In return for her performance, the queen gave her an audio recording of the recital.

"It was all organized by the British and just a very nice gesture as a farewell gift," said State Department spokeswoman Sean McCormack.

Rice is in Brussels Tuesday for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, then is off to New Delhi for meetings with Indian officials following last week’s attacks in Mumbai.

Now, we wonder, what talent will Hillary Clinton show off when she visits the Queen – or any other foreign dignitary – after she’s sworn in as Barack Obama’s secretary of state? She could show off her gardening or egg-making skills — she says she has both.



Read more about: Buckingham Palace, Condoleezza Rice, News, Piano, Politics, Queen Elizabeth, Secretary of State, U.S., Video

5 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Belinda Joy
I may not like her politics, may not respect her lack of internal fortitude and strength of character….but I can’t deny she is indeed a talented woman. Kudos to you Condi, you experienced something few have in history.
By Belinda Joy on 12/02/2008 9:09 am
Lady Gator
All I can say is Wow! Would love to hear more. I’m sure we will be hearing more about Condoleezza Rice in the future. Her star will shine no matter what she decides to do. I will always admire this lady.
By Lady Gator on 12/02/2008 12:24 pm
Ms. Dee
Well, not exactly a command performance. Amazing to me how this woman can finegle herself into such prominence with so little to offer in the end. If she had any sense, she’d have tackled some Mendelssohn. Did you know Queen Victoria’s daughter was the first woman to walk down the aisle to his wedding march? He was a real favorite at the palace while he was still in his teens, and his last concert, the premiere of “Elijah” was at the Birmingham Music Festival.. Brahms was never a fan of the British Empire. In the 1800’s England had very little going on in the way of “native” musicianship, so Cambridge would offer Honorary Doctorates to European greats like Tchaikowsky and Dvorak on the condition that they come to England and give a concert. Brahms is the only one who refused. I had a friend who was called to Buckingham Palace to give a command performance. In high school and college I used to beg him to sing “Old Man River” for me all the time. And he would! Years later he was cast as Joe in the revival of Showboat at the London Palladium….and Queen Elizabeth invited him over to sing “Old Man River” just for her. He died young, at 39, not long after that. But it’s sweet to think, for an instant, the queen and I loved the same thing.
By Ms. Dee on 12/02/2008 12:32 pm
Bonnie Oliver
Condoleezza Rice has been a talented, dedicated and an outstanding Secretary of State. She will be missed, along with her wit and charming enthusiasm about American football. She enchanted the leaders of the world with her beauty and talent and then earned their respect because of her knowledge and respect for them and their countries. To allow Condi Rice to join a recital at the Palace was a delightful honor and I am quite pleased that the Queen of England made the gesture. A never-to-be-forgotten occasion for the Secretary of State. Well done, Condi.
By Bonnie Oliver on 12/02/2008 4:07 pm
Lauriate Roly
I have heard Condoleezza Rice playing the piano. Excellent performer. I admire her greatly. She has been a most admirable representative for the United States of America. She is highly regarded and respected in most nations of the world. Replacing her will be a true challenge for Hillary Clinton . Regarding Mrs. Clinton’s musical talents, I heard years ago that she was a harpist. Perhaps someone can verify this. Apparently she studied this instrument in her early school years.
By Lauriate Roly on 12/02/2008 7:43 pm