Rice plays piano for queen
2008-12-02 13:41
London - Outgoing US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice played the piano for Britain's Queen Elizabeth
at Buckingham Palace on Monday as a farewell gesture before the
end of the Bush administration's term next month.
Rice's spokesperson Sean McCormack said on Tuesday the top US
diplomat played Brahms and was accompanied on violin by Louise
Miliband, the wife of Britain's Foreign Secretary David
Miliband, along with three London Symphony Orchestra members.
An accomplished pianist who ultimately chose foreign policy
instead of becoming a professional musician, Rice has made
several public music performances as the top US diplomat.
McCormack said the royal recital was in a music room at the
palace and the Queen had presented a recording of the
performance to Rice afterwards. The musicians practiced for an
hour beforehand, he added.
"It was all organised by the British and just a very nice
gesture as a farewell gift," McCormack said.
Rice is in London on what is expected to be her final
British visit before president-elect Barack Obama takes office
on January 20, 2009. Rice will be replaced by former first lady
and New York Senator Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.
Rice moves on to Brussels on Tuesday for a meeting of Nato
foreign ministers and is then set to fly to New Delhi for
meetings with Indian officials after last week's attacks in
Mumbai.