When the New York Philharmonic plays Pyongyang

A casual observer might see the New York Philharmonic’s historic Tuesday concert in North Korea as an apolitical event of cultural diplomacy. “Sometimes the North Koreans don’t like our words; maybe they’ll like our music,” said Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill.
Music critic Norman Lebrecht objects, noting dictator Kim Jong Il’s appalling human rights record and suggesting the orchestra and music director Lorin Maazel are being used in an Orwellian game. “Music is the loser in this transaction,” he wrote, “a poisoned pawn on a dirty board.”
Please. If this is a game, the sure winners are Dvorak and Gershwin, whose “New World” Symphony and “An American in Paris,” respectively, are on the program. And recall that Henry Kissinger credited a Philadelphia Orchestra tour to China in 1973 as playing a role in normalization of Sino-U.S. relations.

5 Comments

  1. Hank
    Posted February 24, 2008 at 6:10 am | Permalink

    Gentle people,

    I would like to propose a solution for all of the ugliness on the BLOG.

    I know a lot of the people here personally and I’ve really had no animus toward anyone until yesterday.

    If you would like to have a decent place for BLOGing and if you would like to find a solution (I have one to propose) please contact me by email.

    Everyone that contacts me by tonight(Sunday) evening I will respond with my proposal.

    hank@pixius.net

  2. MonkeyHawk
    Posted February 24, 2008 at 6:13 am | Permalink

    And the New York Philharmonic should be playing Havana, too.

    I traveled a bit behind the Iron Curtain (back when there was an Iron Curtain) and learned that people are people.

  3. Hank
    Posted February 24, 2008 at 6:18 am | Permalink

    Just for a little update, I have had 10 positive responses to my request as of this morning at this time.

    Most from people I know from meet ups or other friends. So far it is a pretty good representation of the BLOGers here.

    I’ll email you all my plan and proposal and request input this evening. I’ll be busy to day until this evening.

    Thanks for your continued support!

    Hank

    hank@pixius.net

  4. Apophis
    Posted February 24, 2008 at 6:28 am | Permalink

    I’d venture to guess that those “10″ you claim responded to your “plan” are your reichwing cronies.

    This battle will NEVER end Price. We (the moderates of the world) will continue to engage you and your allies until YOU stop viewing the world through your warped, religion tainted, hate-filled glasses.

    We all know THAT isn’t going to happen………..let the hostilities resume!

  5. Ben
    Posted February 24, 2008 at 9:18 am | Permalink

    Anything that opens doors is good. I would love to see some way found to ‘unzip’ North Korea like East Germany was ‘unzipped.’ If this involved ‘buying off’ the leadership then so be it. While distasteful it sure beats the heck out of any alternative.

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