International News
See other International News Articles
Title: Dinner diplomacy: Melania Trump sits beside Putin at G20 banquet after her husband confronted him on hacking the election - which Russian leader flatly denied
Source:
Daily Mail
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art ... mance-Beethoven-s-Ode-Joy.html
Published: Jul 8, 2017
Author: Nikki Schwab
Post Date: 2017-07-08 07:14:28 by IbJensen
Keywords: None
Views: 1716
Comments: 6
At a Friday night dinner at the G20, first lady Melania Trump was seated next to Russian President Vladimir Putin Earlier Friday, Putin met with Melania's husband, President Donald Trump, for the first time - at a meeting that lasted two and a half hours President Trump brought up Russia's role in hacking the 2016 presidential election, which Putin quickly denied After spending two and a half hours speaking to President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin had dinner seated beside the American leader's wife, Melania. The Trumps both met Putin for the first time on Friday, as the world's top leaders gathered in Hamburg, Germany at the G20. President Trump's conversation with Putin signified the first time the Republican brought up Russia's hacking of the 2016 presidential election, which Putin promptly denied. With the day's business out of the way, the leaders enjoyed a concert and then a Friday night dinner, in which couples were split up and not seated with their spouses. That's how Melania Trump ended up next to Putin, with President Trump seated down the way, closer to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The first lady, who grew up in Slovenia, then a part of Yugoslavia, knows several languages including German, which the Russian president also speaks. The dinner took place after German Chancellor Angela Merkel treated her G20 guests to Ludwig van Beethoven's 9th Symphony hoping to spread her vision with 'a hymn to humanity, peace and international understanding'. Questions had been raised about how realistic a vision that is with Putin, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdo an and Trump all on hand. The last portion of the symphony is the EU's official anthem. There were concerns before the performance that Trump might dip out of the show, performed at Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie, given the American president's feeling towards symphonies. Trump wrote in his 2004 book 'How to Get Rich' that he knows little about classical music, preferring instead the likes of Frank Sinatra, the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith. According to CNN, Mrs Merkel chose the 1824 symphony - 'a substantial part of German culture' - herself. Its final 'Ode to Joy' movement, featuring a choir singing the rousing words of poet Friedrich Schiller, has long been seen as a call for unity and justice. Two of the lines in particular - 'What convention strictly divides/All people become brothers' - are famous for urging togetherness. Beethoven was fascinated by the revolutionary struggle against the old order in Europe and was once a great admirer of Napoleon Bonaparte. Head of music at Nottingham University Nicholas Baragwanath said the piece was written 'at a time of repression and counter-revolition'. He added: 'The [French] Revolution, this great experiment, had failed and it was a police state, effectively.' For that reason the piece has long been seen as a 'cry for freedom.' In the original version of the poem, however, it contained the line 'Beggars become brothers of lords' in place of 'All people become brothers'. Either way, the grand symphony - first performed when Beethoven was completely deaf - has long been used during political events. Perhaps most famously, a performance was conducted by Leonard Bernstein on Christmas Day 1989, six weeks after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It has also been used by communists, leftist groups in Peru, the Tiananmen Square protesters and even the Nazis. , beautiful spark of the gods, Daughter from Elysium, We enter, drunk with fire, Heavenly One, thy sanctuary! Your magic joins again. What convention strictly divides; All people become brothers, Where your gentle wing abides. Who has succeeded in the great attempt, To be a friend's friend, Whoever has won a lovely woman, Add his to the jubilation! Indeed, who calls even one soul, Theirs upon this world! And whoever never managed, shall steal himself Weeping away from this union. All creatures drink of joy At nature's breast. Just and unjust, Alike taste of her gift; She gave us kisses and the fruit of the vine, A tried friend to the end. [Even] the worm has been granted sensuality, And the cherub stands before God! Gladly, as His heavenly bodies fly On their courses through the heavens, Thus, brothers, you should run your race, As a hero going to conquest. You millions, I embrace you. This kiss is for all the world! Brothers, above the starry canopy There must dwell a loving Father. Do you fall in worship, you millions? World, do you know your creator? Seek him in the heavens; Above the stars must He dwell. (Many, many, many photos are at the link. Some of which are interesting) Poster Comment: Merkel did everything she could to embarrass and harass Trump and his beautiful wife, but it seems to have all backfired. Hamburg was an excellent choice made by Frau Merkel; it's a city full of whores. 
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
#1. To: IbJensen (#0)
Am quite sure that Putin was very thrilled to have Melania setting beside him !! Am also quite certain that he was thanking God that it was Melania and not the Wookie.
#4. To: Stoner (#1)
As I'm sure would be the case for most of us guys.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Replies to Comment # 1. Am quite sure that Putin was very thrilled to have Melania setting beside him !!
End Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]