New York Philharmonic Orchestra’s Concert in North Korea Breaks New Ground

On February 26, 2008, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra will make history when it performs a concert at the East Pyongyang Grand Theater in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). 

The Korea Society is proud to have played a role in facilitating this remarkable cultural exchange, lending its assistance to the orchestra and DPRK officials as they developed concert plans throughout 2007 and into 2008. The Korea Society was involved from the very first meetings between DPRK diplomats and the New York Philharmonic, which led to the formal invitation from the DPRK. The Korea Society’s help was instrumental assuring the success of the Philharmonic’s advance teams, and in facilitating the logistics that will make the performance possible.

The Korea Society believes that this performance—which will be broadcast live around the globe and, in an unprecedented development, within the DPRK itself—is an important and welcome milestone in U.S. relations on the Korean Peninsula. Officials have now confirmed that the concert will also be broadcast over DPRK radio. (Some estimates place North Korean radio penetration between 3.5 and 4 million sets, and television penetration at 250,000 to 500,000 TV sets.)

The New York Philharmonic Orchestra will stay in Pyongyang from February 25–27, during which time North Korean music students will have the opportunity to attend special master classes with orchestra members. Conducted by Lorin Maazel, music director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the concert program will include the national anthems of both the DPRK and the United States, as well as the prelude to Act III of Wagner’s Lohengrin, Gershwin’s American in Paris and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, From the New World.

Viewers in metropolitan New York will able to view a broadcast of the concert on WNET/Thirteen at 8:00 PM on Tuesday, February 26. The concert will be carried nationwide on PBS’ Great Performances program. Viewers outside the New York area should check local listings for time and date. A DVD of the concert will be released by EuroArts in spring of 2008.

Following their performance in Pyongyang, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra will travel to Seoul, where they will play a companion concert on February 28.

Zarin Mehta, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra’s president and executive director, has said that "this journey is a manifestation of the power of music to unite people.” Indeed, cultural exchanges such as this concert are powerful symbols of good will that can pave the way for closer ties between the DPRK, the United States and Republic of Korea in the future. With that hope, The Korea Society wishes the New York Philharmonic Orchestra an excellent performance.

Additional links:

Wall Street Journal - An American in Pyongyang
Wall Street Journal -  Why We'll Play Pyongyang