VOA慢速英语--马友友将在第一次世界大战100周年纪念活动中表演

Yo-Yo Ma to Perform at World War I 100th Anniversary Event

French officials say famed musician Yo-Yo Ma will perform at the Arc¹ de Triomphe in Paris in a World War I anniversary event.

The war ended 100 years ago on November 11, 1918. More than 16 million people were killed, 9 million of them soldiers.

The fighting lasted almost four years, four months. At the time of the fighting, World War I was often spoken of as “the war to end all wars.” Now, it is often called “The Great War.”

Joseph Zimet is director of France’s First World War Centenary Mission. He says Ma will lead a field of "great international artists" during the November 11 ceremony close to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Chinese-American artist Ma, who received the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom back in 2010, was born in Paris in 1955.

A group of young musicians, called The European Union Youth Orchestra², has also been invited to perform. They will play Ravel's “Bolero” at the event.

Beninese artist Angelique Kidjo is to sing in honor of the colonial³ troops who fought for France during the war.

I’m Dorothy Gundy.

Words in This Story

centenary - adj. the 100th anniversary of something

mission - n. a project or operation

1 arc   

n.弧形（物），弧，电弧，弧光

参考例句：

• The sun appears to move in an arc across the sky.太阳看起来在天空中以弧形运行。
• The rainbow described an arc in the dark sky.彩虹在昏暗的天空划出了一道圆弧。

2 orchestra   

n.管弦乐队；vt.命令，定购

参考例句：

• He plays the violin in an orchestra.他在管弦乐队中演奏小提琴。
• I was tempted to stay and hear this superb orchestra rehearse.我真想留下来听这支高超的管弦乐队排练。

3 colonial   

adj.殖民地的，关于殖民的；n.殖民地，居民

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• The people of Africa have successfully fought against colonial rule.非洲人民成功地反抗了殖民统治。