The Pyongyang Concert

The Pyongyang Concert. In February 2008, Lorin Maazel conducted the New York Philharmonic in an historic concert in Pyongyang, the capital of Communist North Korea. The program was:

1. National Anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or Wongyun's Aegukka

2. The Star-Spangled Banner

3. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III

4. Dvořák Symphony No. 9 (From the New World)

5. Gershwin An American in Paris

6. Bizet Farandole from L'Arlésienne Suite No. 2

7. Bernstein Candide: Overture

8. Arirang

A most  interesting documentary is included called Americans in Pyongyang. Directed for TV by Michael Beyer.  Released 2008, disc has PCM 5.1 sound. Grade: A

This was produced by Paul Smaczny. He combines the vision of an artist, the wisdom of a philosopher, and the killer instincts of a reporter to give us what might turn out to be the most significant entertainment video ever made. We don't know exactly why the North Koreans asked for this concert. But the reason the New Yorkers went is clearly explained: It might do some good! The concert started with the North Korean National Anthem and The Star-Spangled Banner. The final encore was a glowing arrangement of the Arirang, a Korean song beloved on both sides of the demilitarized zone

After the concert was over, the cameras kept running. As described by Zarin Mehta, "By the end . . .  both the audience and the musicians onstage stood waving to each other in new-found spirit of understanding." This you must see to appreciate it; and with high-definition video, you see it well.
This title also includes a bonus documentary describing the huge effort involved in shooting the concert in high-definition video and high fidelity sound. How did EuroArts come up the funds to pull this off? The documentary also shows the astonishingly spooky conditions of life that now prevail in North Korea.

P.S. The mini-review above was written in 2009. It's now late 2011 and almost 4 years have past since the New York Philharmonic visited North Korea.  Relations between North Korea and the U.S.A are about the same as before. But maybe it's still to early to know if the  Pyongyang concert will do any good.