The New York Philharmonic performed the U.S. national anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea.
Led by Lorin Maazel, the Philharmonic opened its historic concert in Pyongyang with “Patriotic Song” (North Korea’s national anthem composed by Kim Won Gyun in 1947) on the 26th at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre. The concert was broadcasted live on TV throughout the world.
The national flags of both countries were raised at opposite ends of the stage. The theatre has seats for 1,500, and was filled with guests and Pyongyang citizens. The audience members looked tense but rose to their feet for the anthems performed by the world’s best musicians.
For the first piece of music, the orchestra played the prelude to Act III of Richard Wagner’s “Lohengrin,” and Antonin Dvorak’s “New World Symphony.” While Mr. Maazel was introducing the Dvorak’s work to the audience, he added “Have a good time” in Korean, which warmed up the stone cold Pyongyang audience.
Then, the orchestra performed Gershwin’s “American in Paris.” The director Maazel said, “Someday a composer may write a work titled ‘Americans in Pyongyang,’” and his witty remarks brought smiles to the audience. He also added, “Enjoy” in Korean, which further eased the audience into the concert.
When the main program was over, the audience called for encores and the Philharmonic played Georges Bizet’s “Farandole” from “L’Arlesienne.” For the second encore, the orchestra played Leonard Bernstein’s overture to “Candide,” drawing a standing ovation from the audience.
Yet, the highlight of the concert was unquestionably “Arirang,” which was performed for the final encore. When the orchestra played “Arirang” composed by North Korean composer Choi Sung Han, Pyongyang audience most of whom had remained stony faced throughout the concert started beaming brightly. There were those who sobbed and wiped off their tears.
After the orchestra played the last notes of “Arirang,” the audience gave a five-minute standing ovation to the Philharmonic. Some shouted, “Bravo!” and waved to the musicians as they left the stage. Instead of leaving right away, orchestra members lingered on the stage and waved back at the cheering Pyongyang citizens. Mr. Maazel did the audience the courtesy of coming back to the stage for a bow three times.
However, Kim Jong Il did not attend the concert to the disappointment of the media.
Moonhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) of South Korea broadcasted the concert live on TV and captured many interesting footages from the concert.
The concert was attended by a large number of college students identified by their unique clothing: a suit with white shirt and red tie. Judging from the fact that all male audience wore a suit except military officials and party cadres, the authorities must have selected the audience from “Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League and social organizations.”
Female audience members wore either Hanbok (traditional Korean dress) or western-style suits. It is assumed from their attire that they come from “Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League,” and art-related organizations. Most female audience adorned themselves with heavy make-up, earrings, hair-bands, and other splendid accessories because they knew they were thrown into the spotlight of the world.
Shin Dong Ho, MBC anchorman who reported the concert live from Pyongyang interviewed a Pyongyang citizen after the show.
“I was very impressed by the orchestra’s performance of Dvorak’s “New World Symphony,” said Han Sung Hee, composer at Mansudae Art Troupe. She added unexpected remarks saying, “The orchestra well expressed [Dvorak’s] compassion for the oppressed Black and Indian (referring to Native Americans) and his love for his country.”
The interviewee then turned to the anchorman Shin and said, “We can meet each other because the June 15 Joint Declaration has provided an opportunity like this. … The Korean people must stand and cooperate together.” Her willful words perplexed the anchorman for a while.
It is believed that North Korea has laid the groundwork to improve the country’s relations with the U.S. As the concert was broadcast live throughout the world, North Korea was able to shake off to a great extent the country’s negative image as a “rogue state” and ‘terrorist nation,” that had been created after the country’s nuclear test.
As the 2000 inter-Korean summit brought Kim Jong Il into the spotlight of the world media and helped overcome his negative image, the Philharmonic’s concert in Pyongyang has improved the country’s image in the world.
