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Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra
Dec 9, 2003 at 6:00 PM
Concert Hall

Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra
Mohammed Amin Ezzat, conductor
and the National Symphony Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Guest Soloist Yo-Yo Ma, cello

Kennedy Center President Michael M. Kaiser joined Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Patricia S. Harrison on travel to Iraq on September 23-26 to meet with artists, arts leaders and arts organizations to discuss strategies to help rebuild Iraq’s cultural institutions.

The delegation also met with the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra to discuss a U.S. Department of State-sponsored cultural exchange program, which would include a joint concert with the National Symphony Orchestra on December 9th. “Educational and Cultural exchange programs provide the opportunity for people to effect positive change at every level of society. In addition to the bricks and mortar of reconstruction on post-Saddam Iraq, we are working to build a partnership with the Iraqi people to restore civil society and hope for the future,” said Assistant Secretary of State Patricia S. Harrison.

“The arts have emerged as vital components of every society, and Iraq is no exception,” said Kaiser. “I believe the people of Iraq deserve a thriving arts community. The arts organizations and artists in Iraq will require a plan for future development. I hope these first conversations set the stage for an ongoing dialogue with Iraqi arts groups.” Kaiser added, “We will welcome the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra to the Kennedy Center in December, where they will perform with Music Director Leonard Slatkin, the National Symphony Orchestra and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.” The INSO'S conductor for the past several years, Abdul Razzk Ibhraheem Mahdi, will also be in attendance.

Kaiser and Ma serve as cultural ambassadors as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ CultureConnect program.

The U.S. Department of State selected Kaiser and the Kennedy Center for this program because of their proven success with the Capacity Building Program for Culturally Specific Arts Organizations, which currently involves 29 African American, Latino, Asian American and Native American arts groups from around the United States.

This concert is free, but tickets are required. A limited number of free tickets, two per person, will be distributed on Saturday, December 6 between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. in the Hall of States.

Free parking is not available when picking up or attending free events.

Program:
BEETHOVEN - Overture to "Egmont", Op. 84
EZZAT - "Three Fragments"
FAURE - Elegie for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 24
SAGIRMA - Symphonic Poem No. 2
TRADITIONAL - Traditional "Over the Palm Trees," arr. Mommer
BIZET - Farandole, from "L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2"

http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showEvent&event=MEIRQ