The New York Phiharmonic held a concert in Pyongyang in 26 Feb 2008 to the hopes of better relations between the U.S. and the DPRK. At least that’s how the American side – whose memories of Ping Pong diplomacy probably resonate in the background - saw it as the largest contingent of United States citizens since the Korean War appeared north of the 38th parallel (here).
Then how might the North Koreans have seen it? Evidently, among those present “There were those who sobbed and wiped off their tears” (here), but most Koreans could not even access a transmission (here). Kim Jong-il did not attend, but is likely to profit in one way or the other (here). The concert was only possible due to the “Dear Leader”, and furthermore he managed to draw positive – or at worst non-negative - attention to his regime (just guess who made it to the TIME Asia edition cover page).
Below is the NY Phil playing the Korean folk song Arirang (but also see this Youtube link for Jang Sa-ik’s version). As conductor Mr. Loring Maazel put it: “There’s no sides – there’s no North and South in ‘Arirang” (here). The NY Times has a good review of the first time an American cultural organization appeared in the North (here).
(Video courtesy sangdoo2)
Tags: Arirang, Lorin Maazel, New York Philharmonic, Pyongyang
