Irish rockers U2 returned to Berlin for a free mini-concert Thursday in front of the Brandenburg Gate, playing its classic singles and a duet with Jay-Z even as the show was obscured from public view by a nearly 6-1/2 -foot high metal barrier.

Gero Breloer/Associated Press

Singer Bono performs with his band U2 at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Thursday.

The band played a 30-minute, six-song set that featured "Sunday, Bloody Sunday," "One Love" and "Beautiful Day."

Rapper Jay-Z appeared as a surprise guest.

The show, which was free to 10,000 ticket holders who snapped up the tickets online last week in just three hours, drew some controversy because of the barrier.

Both Berliners and tourists alike saw the irony in building a wall around a concert dedicated to the wall that already has come down.

The music network MTV, which organized the concert, said it worked with the local promoter, the city and Berlin police to install a temporary fence "around the site to ensure the safety and security of the attendees at the event as well as residents and businesses in the area."

U2's publicist RMP refused comment about the barrier.

The Berlin Wall fell on Nov. 9, 1989, ending almost 30 years of Cold War division between the communist East and the democratic West. Throughout those decades, the Brandenburg Gate stood just inside East Berlin.

Oprah accused of double standard

Oprah Winfrey says she's keeping singer BeBe Winans off her show until domestic violence charges against him are resolved.

The gospel singer had taped appearances on Winfrey's "karaoke challenge" and was on last Friday. Following the show, some bloggers questioned whether Winfrey was guilty of a double standard by including Winans when she took a strong stand against domestic violence following Chris Brown's assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna.

Winans was charged with misdemeanor domestic assault last winter for allegedly pushing ex-wife Debra Winans to the ground. He has a court date set for Jan. 20.

Winfrey spokesman Don Halcombe says Winans is off the karaoke segment.

D.C. area theater to fete Lansbury

Angela Lansbury will be the first recipient of the Stephen Sondheim Award from a Washington-area theater that has produced more of his works than any other U.S. theater.

Signature Theatre announced Thursday that it will honor Lansbury at a gala celebration in April.

Lansbury is a five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical star. Two of her Tonys are for Sondheim musicals -- the 1974 revival of "Gypsy" and "Sweeney Todd" in 1979.

Lansbury returns to Broadway this month in Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" with Catherine Zeta-Jones.

-- From Our Press Services

Today's birthdays

Director Mike Nichols, 78; singer Eugene Pitt of the Jive Five, 72; country singer Guy Clark, 68; actress Sally Field, 63; singer Glenn Frey, 61; singer Corey Glover of Living Colour, 45; actress Kelly Rutherford ("Melrose Place"), 41; actor Ethan Hawke, 39; actress Thandie Newton, 37; model-actress Rebecca Romijn, 37.