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The North Korean government has agreed to a live broadcast of the New York Philharmonic concert in Pyongyang on Feb. 26, the New York Times reported Tuesday. An official from the North Korean Mission to the UN in New York recently sent confirmation to the orchestra by e-mail, the daily reported.
"We¡¯re very pleased that they¡¯ve finally confirmed it,¡± it quoted New York Philharmonic president Zarin Mehta as saying. The paper commented, ¡°Since the invitation to perform became widely known in October last year, the orchestra has had to confront criticism that performing in North Korea would lend legitimacy¡± to the regime there.
The orchestra has been keen to stress that it would not perform only for a handful of North Korean leaders and demanded that the North Korean government broadcast the concert as widely as possible.
Korea Society president Evans Revere said live broadcasts are unheard of in the Stalinist country, and only some national events are occasionally shown on tape. He added, "A bunch of cultured Americans on a stage performing beautiful music in front of an audience that has been told a different story about what America is about -- that¡¯s what¡¯s of interest."
The concert takes place in Pyongyang at 6 p.m., which is 4 a.m. in New York. It will be televised in the New York area the same evening.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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