With his hair flopping in time with the music, a British conductor became the first foreigner to lead Iraq's National Symphony Orchestra since 2003 in a concert made all the more memorable by a rocket attack and a power cut.

Oliver Gilmour had only two days to rehearse and bond with the orchestra's 70 musicians before performing yesterday inside the Green Zone. “The important thing is that I am here and I think that makes them feel noticed,” he said. “Good things are happening in Iraq.”

Few musicians have to contend with the level of security displayed at the concert, with musicians and guests submitted to checks by soldiers; double bassists and percussionists in the West will rarely, if ever, have to contend with dogs sniffing their instruments before a performance.

According to the orchestra director, Karim Wasfi, 27 members of the orchestra have had to leave the country, temporarily or permanently, since the war. Musicians became specific targets at the height of the insurgency, with Islamic extremists opposing their performances. Such threats have lessened slightly in recent months, but the risk of violence remains.

In an unwelcome reminder of this ever-present threat, an explosion boomed out, caused either by a rocket attack or mortar fire, as guests shuffled into the concert, which was held in a conference centre normally used by the Iraqi parliament.

The concert, which was organised by the UN as part of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, was an invitation-only event, with most of the 200 guests consisting of diplomats and military officers and Iraqi parliamentarians and officials.

It lasted for about 90 minutes, with the first half devoted to Western music, conducted by Gilmour, and the second to Iraqi compositions, conducted by Wasfi.

Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, gave one of three speeches before the music started, praising his country's ability to overcome the threat of sectarian warfare. Staffan de Mistura, special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, also said a few words, although just as he was about to talk the lights in the hall went out. “Do not worry. We are used to that. We go forwards regardless whether there is light or not. The light of culture continues,” he said. At that point his microphone temporarily cut out. A recording also had to be used in place of a missing harp.

At the end of the performance, the two conductors exchanged batons. Looking flushed, Gilmour said afterwards: “It went better than I expected it was going to. I think there was warmth in the orchestra, there was warmth in me — it was an excellent unity in the end.”

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