N.Y. Philharmonic Plays In North Korea

PYONGYANG, North Korea, Feb. 27 -- Symphonic diplomacy won bravos and standing ovations here Tuesday night, as the New York Philharmonic performed a concert without precedent in this shuttered Stalinist state that has long considered the United States to be its prime enemy.

Swinging from a rollicking rendition of George Gershwin's "An American in Paris" to a moving interpretation of Korea's beloved folk anthem "Arirang," the concert delighted a mostly male, standing-room-only audience of North Koreans. Nearly all of them were wearing lapel pins bearing the face of their leader, Kim Jong Il, or of his late father, Kim Il Sung, who created this heavily armed communist nation.

Broadcast live here on state television and radio, the concert opened with the national anthems of both countries, as the audience of Communist Party members and supporters stood for the playing of their own "Patriotic Song" and "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Although Kim did not attend the evening performance -- concert hall security was light throughout the day, a telltale sign -- it was quickly characterized as a musical and diplomatic triumph by Lorin Maazel, the Philharmonic's music director.

"Little could we know that we would be drawn into orbit by this stunning reaction," Maazel told reporters minutes after the concert, which was supported by the Bush administration but criticized by some because of human rights issues in the North. "I think it is going to do a great deal for Korean-U.S. relations. We may have been instrumental in opening a little door."

Asked if he was disappointed that Kim had not attended, Maazel responded: "I have yet to see the president of the United States at one of my concerts. Sometimes politicians are too busy."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during a one-day visit to Beijing, said the concert was a good thing but cautioned against trying to portray it as a diplomatic breakthrough. "North Korea needs ways to open up," she said. "This is positive. But it's a long way from changing the situation of North Korea."

The Philharmonic flew to South Korea on Wednesday afternoon, following a 48 hour trip. The orchestra performs in Seoul on Thursday.

Before leaving, Maazel led a rousing rehearsal performance on Wednesday morning by the North Korean State Symphony Orchestra, an experience he described as "amazing, totally amazing." The orchestra played Richard Wagner's "Die Miestersinger Prelude to Act 1," as well as Tchaikovsky's "Romeo & Juliet Overture Fantasy."

"They were very focused, very well-prepared and very emotional," Maazel said. "I felt their passionate commitment to music as we were playing."

The North Korean Orchestra has accepted an invitation to perform this fall in Britain, in what would be its first trip to Western Europe, according to David Heather, a British businessmen who is helping organize the trip. He told reporters here that North Korean officials have told him they are also open to the idea of sending the orchestra to perform in the United States.

"I think there is willingness to do it on both sides," said David Heather, referring to the governments of North Korea and the United States. "It is a question of funding."

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