Riyadh opens up to.....Mozart

It might not seem like such a milestone if you don't know that these sorts of events have been largely prohibited in the kingdom. But as today's NY Times reports:

In a groundbreaking concert in Saudi Arabia, a German-based quartet played European classical music in a public setting for a mixed-gender audience, right, The Associated Press reported. Public concerts are virtually unheard of in this strict Muslim kingdom, and the sexes are segregated even in lines at fast-food outlets. The concert — with the Artis Piano Quartet performing works by Mozart, Brahms and Paul Juon — took place in a 500-seat government-run cultural center in Riyadh on Friday night and touched off speculation that Saudi Arabia was seeking greater openness.

So what did the quartet's pianist, Hiroko Atsumi, wear the astute observer of fashion in this part of the world might wonder? Not an abaya, it turns out, but rather "a long green top and black trousers."