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High-Powered Duet For Arts Medalists
Yo-Yo Ma Teams With Condoleezza Rice
By Jacqueline Trescott
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 23, 2002; Page C01
On occasion, the annual presentation of the National Medal of Arts will have an impromptu performance moment. Bob Hope talked in 1995, and no one dared stop him. But usually the protocol at the official ceremony is a hug and handshake from the president and a gracious smile from the honoree.
Yesterday was a departure.
Yo-Yo Ma, the celebrated cellist and one of this year's medalists, took the stage at Constitution Hall. That's not unusual for him. But his musical partner this time was pianist Condoleezza Rice. Yes, that Condoleezza Rice -- the one who is national security adviser. Even President Bush seemed amused by the combo. "Ma is performing with another world-renowned figure," said Bush, laughing slightly and looking toward the woman who is more familiar for staring down questioners on television news shows.
Without hesitation, Ma and Rice played a graceful movement from Brahms's Violin Sonata in D Minor.
The duet was the culmination of a meeting years ago.
"I met Dr. Rice when she was a dean at Stanford University," said Ma. "At a reception, she came up and said: 'I play the piano,' and I answered, 'How lovely.' Then we talked, and I found out she could play." Ma talked about the origins of the performance at a luncheon at The Washington Post yesterday. When he was notified of his selection as an honoree, Ma said he was asked if he would like to play.
He remembered his conversation with Rice at Stanford and suggested the duet. Rice, who has discussed her childhood dream of being a classical pianist and even introduced one of her childhood heroes, Van Cliburn, in December at the Kennedy Center Honors, suggested Brahms. They rehearsed yesterday. "We had a real rehearsal," said Ma, describing that they had gone beyond technique to discuss the meaning of the music.
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