Philharmonic Gets a Taste of Pyongyang Diplomacy

NYT ^ | 12/12/07 | DANIEL J. WAKIN

[Borges]

It was one of the more unusual moments on the stage of Avery Fisher Hall: North Korea’s highest-ranking diplomat in the United States stood next to the podium on Tuesday and welcomed the musicians of the New York Philharmonic to his country.

“We are ready to receive you,” the official, Pak Gil Yon, told the players, who responded with mild applause. “I sincerely wish you a good performance and pleasant stay in Pyongyang.”

Mr. Pak was also asked, provocatively, whether Mozart or Mr. Kim, who has been credited with directing movies and other creative accomplishments, was the greater opera composer. “I’m not in a position to fully answer your question,” Mr. Pak said.

[Borges]

Mostly posted for the bolded statement. OMG

[Borges]

PING

[Greg F]

No encore prease. My opera company is sreepy.

[sitetest]

Dear Borges,

Thanks for the ping!

Classical Music Ping List ping!

If you want on or off this list, let me know via FR e-mail.

sitetest

[garyhope]

“Mr. Pak was also asked, provocatively, whether Mozart or Mr. Kim, who has been credited with directing movies and other creative accomplishments, was the greater opera composer. “I’m not in a position to fully answer your question,” Mr. Pak said.”

And he was thinking: “What, you crazy asking me question like that! Unless I say Great Leader Kim Il Dingy Dong best composer, me and whole family get killed. What, you crazy ask me that. You stupid. I know nuuuuthing, NUUUUthing! Go way, you bad man.”

[HoosierHawk]

Mr. Mehta deflected questions about the human rights record of North Korea, whose government has kept its people tightly isolated, interned hundreds of thousands and closely limited personal freedom.

Leave it to the NY Times to wrestle with the fact that North Korea is a Stalinist state.

[Borges]

I believe Mehta is a Rep. from the NY Philharmonic not the NYT which states their human rights record outright. I have a feeling the NY Philharmonic made a Faustian bargain to be silent about political matters throughout this process.