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Philharmonic to Perform in North Korea
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At the December 11 press briefing, Philharmonic Chairman Paul B. Guenther and President Zarin Mehta, with Ambassador Pak Gil Yon, Permanent Representative of the D.P.R.K. to the United Nations Photos: Chris Lee |
On December 11 the New York Philharmonic announced that it will give the first-ever performance by an American orchestra in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on February 26, 2008. The concert — the centerpiece of a 48-hour visit that will include master classes and a rehearsal open to music students — will immediately follow Asia 2008, a tour to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. Following the historic North Korea performance the Orchestra will travel to Seoul to give a companion concert on February 28 before returning to New York.
Philharmonic President and Executive Director Zarin Mehta issued the following statement:
A Message from the President and Executive Director
The New York Philharmonic receives many invitations to perform throughout the world. We appreciate all invitations, and we explore each of them. As America's first orchestra, we are accustomed to serving as cultural ambassadors of the United States. However, it is not often that our role rises to a higher level.
Before I go any further, I want to thank Ambassador Christopher R. Hill, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and the U.S. Department of State for their counsel and assistance in tackling many complicated issues that we have faced over the past few months. I would also like to thank Ambassador Donald Gregg, Evans Revere, and Frederick Carriere of the New York-based Korea Society for their assistance these past months.
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After the briefing, Mr. Guenther, Yoko Nagae Ceschina, Ambassador Pak, and Mr. Mehta |
In August 2007, the New York Philharmonic was invited by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to perform in the capital city of Pyongyang. As you might imagine, we approached this invitation with caution and reservation since, like most Americans — like most people throughout the world — we had little knowledge of this very foreign country. In addition to logistical issues, we were left with three major questions:
- Would our government wish us to pursue this invitation?
- Could a New York Philharmonic concert in Pyongyang contribute, in some way, to the growing success of the multi-nation talks?
- If so, what conditions would we face in Pyongyang?
In October, I led a group on a five-day visit to Pyongyang. Among the seven of us were a member of the Orchestra, an official of the U.S. Department of State, and a representative of The Korea Society. We visited performance venues, hotels, the music conservatory, and more, and had informative and fruitful discussions regarding logistical and operational matters ranging from freight and transportation, to stage acoustics and lighting, to international broadcast arrangements. We stated that, if we came, our musicians would want to engage directly with local music students and professional musicians so that they could directly reach as many people as possible, and that we would be accompanied by an international press corps.
On December 10, I received a letter from Congressman Tom Lantos, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, in which he said, "I am writing because I am encouraged by reports that the New York Philharmonic may hold a concert in North Korea, and I would like to express my strong support for such an event. This opportunity to bring the New York Philharmonic to Pyongyang is an excellent occasion to expose North Korea to one of the greatest cultural performances in the world, and it would promote unprecedented openness on the part of the North Korean regime. I firmly believe that we must engage with countries and governments with which we have differences, and I applaud your efforts to engage North Korea outside the political arena through the arts. It is my sincere hope that the New York Philharmonic will travel to Pyongyang, and I wish you success in this endeavor."
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Avery Fisher Hall’s Grand Promenade during the briefing |
Throughout the process, our Board of Directors and the Musicians of the Orchestra were kept informed of the progress of discussions and negotiations. On Tuesday, December 11, 2007, I was joined by our Chairman, Paul B. Guenther, and Ambassador Pak Gil Yon, Permanent Representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations, at a news briefing on the Grand Promenade of Avery Fisher Hall to announce that the New York Philharmonic would perform a concert in Pyongyang on Tuesday, February 26, 2008. Our Music Director, Lorin Maazel, will conduct a program that will include Gershwin's An American in Paris and Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, From the New World, of which this Orchestra gave the world premiere in New York in 1893. The concert will commence with the national anthems of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and of the United States of America. During our 48-hour visit, February 25–27, 2008, we expect to welcome students to an open rehearsal, and we are working on arranging for New York Philharmonic musicians to give master classes at the music conservatory in Pyongyang.
We are also very pleased to announce that, following the Pyongyang concert, the New York Philharmonic will travel to Seoul, Republic of Korea, to perform a companion concert on Thursday, February 28, which Lorin Maazel will also conduct.
It takes extraordinary people to make an extraordinary vision such as this become a reality. On behalf of the New York Philharmonic, I would like to express our deep appreciation to Yoko Nagae Ceschina, a greatly dedicated patron of the New York Philharmonic, who is underwriting the concert in Pyongyang; to Asiana Airlines, which will provide air transportation; and to MBC, the Munhwa Broadcasting Company (Republic of Korea), for its financial support. The counsel and assistance of the U.S. Department of State has been invaluable in tackling the many complicated issues over the past several months, as has The Korea Society. We are most grateful to both for their support.
This journey is a manifestation of the power of music to unite people. It is our sincere hope that this visit will aid in the beginning of a new era between the peoples of our nations. As Ambassador Hill was quoted in The New York Times as saying: "I hope it will be looked back upon as an event that helped bring that country back into the world."
Sincerely,
