Americans in Pyongyang

At the start of 2008, the New York Philharmonic made history as the first ever American orchestra to perform in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. For 48 hours, two hundred orchestra members and more than one hundred journalists landed in the world’s most isolated and secluded country, despite the country technically still being at war with the United States. Performing Gershwin’s An American in Paris and Dvořák’s ‘New World’ Symphony, the subtly nuanced concert is coupled with masterclasses at the conservatory and bus journeys through empty streets. The musicians navigate a whole new culture and allow the music to build bridges and create understanding between one another.

Ensembles: 

New York Philharmonic , North Korean State Orchestra

Conductor: 

Lorin Maazel