Inter-Korean artistic exchange agreement reached

Posted on : 2011-09-17 10:31 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Director Chung Myung-whun continues his push to strengthen inter-Korean relations through music
 Sep. 16.
(Photo by Kim Tae-hyoung)
Sep. 16. (Photo by Kim Tae-hyoung)

By Park Bo-mi

Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra music director and UNICEF goodwill ambassador Chung Myung-whun, 58, announced Friday that he had reached an agreement with North Korea during his Sept. 12-15 Pyongyang visit to hold recitals in Seoul and Pyongyang by a symphony orchestra made up of North Korean and South Korean musicians.

Speaking at a press conference Friday morning in the Seoul Philharmonic rehearsal hall on Seoul’s Sejong Road, Chung said a letter of intent had been signed with officials in North Korea's council on artistic exchange for the holding of regular recitals by a joint orchestra composed of equal numbers of North Korean and South Korean musicians, as well as the discovery and training of promising young North Korean musicians.

Regarding the possibilities of the performances actually taking place, Chung said, “I saw during my visit that we each want musical and musician exchanges.”

“I am certain we will be seeing a meaningful outcome,” Chung added.

Chung hinted at the possibility of joint North Korean and South Korean performances, saying, “I would like to arrange an opportunity for orchestra members from North Korea and South Korea to meet. Personally, I would like to see joint performances of Beethoven’s Ninth, the ‘Choral’ Symphony, in Seoul and Pyongyang at the end of the year.”

During his North Korea visit, Chung said that he was helped greatly by former French Culture Minister Jack Lang, who introduced him to a North Korean musician.

“I had wanted to go [to North Korea] in the past, but it fell through at the last minute,” he added. “The things that had not been resolved before were all worked out in the space of two weeks.”

Seoul Philharmonic CEO Kim Ju-ho, who accompanied Chung on his visit, said, “We held discussions in terms of purely private artistic exchange, and we did not meet with North Korean authorities.”

Kim added that any follow-up measures for a joint performance would require approval from authorities on both sides.

Chung, who conducted a rehearsal by North Korea’s National Symphony Orchestra and Unhasu Orchestra during his stay and conducted auditions to assess the performance ability of seven members of the latter orchestra, said, “North Korean musicians are extremely skilled. I am also considering a project for the development of young North Korean musicians.”

On this, Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said, “At this stage, we do not view this as something for the government to express an official position on.”

“If an agreement is reached with North Korea on specific plans such as joint performance dates, then we will make a determination about approval and support at that time,” Chun added.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

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