Culture Vultures

At the same time Iran's totalitarian thugs were busily executing people, they were also trying to woo the EUnuchs via some high-toned "cultchuh." From the NYT:

GENEVA — Late last month — around the time the Iranian government executed two more political prisoners, charging nine others with waging war against God, a capital offense — the Tehran Symphony Orchestra was sent on a government-sponsored tour across Europe, which just ended this week.

It played the so-called Peace and Friendship Symphony, by Majid Entezami, a four-movement jeremiad of martial bombast and almost unfathomable incompetence and silliness, originally performed, according to Tehran Times, last February in Iran to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the revolution. It has been retitled for this occasion...

Good thinking. The original title--We Keel You All, Ye Impudent Kafirs and Minions of Great Satan--probably wouldn't have gone over as well.