American Orchestra in North Korea
The New York Philharmonic May Perform in Diplomacy Tour Spring 2008
Classical music takes a stab at diplomacy as the New York Philharmonic plans a tour of North Korea, hoping to improve relations between two hostile nations.
Zarin Mehta leads one of America’s most prestigious orchestras, the New York Philharmonic. The orchestra’s website describes the NYP as “a cultural ambassador,” stressing the importance that world tours have in forging political as well as artistic relationships. Now Mehta has the opportunity to investigate the possibility of a tour in a country antithetical to American values of democracy and personal freedom.
Music as Diplomat
Will opening musical doors in North Korea usher in an era of political trust and diplomatic negotiation? Music isn’t a magical panacea for curing the world of its problems (poverty still persists in Africa even after Live Aid), but cultural exchange does leave its mark. One factor—among many others—that contributed to the toppling of communism in Russia was Gorbachev’s greater tolerance for communication with the West.
So perhaps this concert will be merely one of the first loose chinks in the dam separating North Korea and America: North Korea has already agreed to disable its nuclear facilities and North Korean diplomats were given more freedom to tour Washington.
Mehta Makes Tour Plans
New York Philharmonic President Zarin Mehta and the public relations director, Eric Latzky, were scheduled to arrive in Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, on Saturday, October 6 to discuss options for a tour, as well as to scope out venues, hotels, and other trip-planning details (after all, finding a place to put 106 orchestra members can be quite a project).
Again emphasizing the diplomatic nature of the tour, former ambassador to South Korea Christopher R. Hill has helped obtain the New York Philharmonic’s invitation from North Korea. If all goes well, the New York Philharmonic could be performing in North Korea on February 7th through 25th, making the performances an extension of the orchestra’s tour through China.
The New York Philharmonic: At Home and Abroad
But for those who can’t make it to North Korea, the New York Philharmonic has a stellar 2007-2008 concert season planned for its own Lincoln Hall (located in Manhattan). And thanks to the new webcast featured on the New York Philharmonic’s website, you don’t even have to be in New York to enjoy their music.
For the month of October, the New York Philharmonic is celebrating the music of Tchaikovsky, including the Russian composer’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Recordings of New York Philharmonic performances are also available on the NYP website.
Sources
New Your Philharmonic Making Plans, CBC.
