(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-26 20:07

 

PYONGYANG - The oldest US orchestra on Tuesday gave an unprecedented concert in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that both sides say they hope will bring a little harmony to relations between the two countries.

The orchestra opened the performance with both national anthems -- North Korea's first, and continued with works by Richard Wagner, Antonin Dvorak and George Gershwin. 

The concert closed with an arrangement of the "Arirang" folk song that is hugely popular in both North and South Korea. 

"We feel this opportunity will deepen a better understanding and trust between the two countries," Pak Su-mi, a guide, told foreign visitors to the Great People's Study House.

Executive director of the New York Philharmonic, Zarin Mehta, echoed her comments, saying officials from both sides hoped the biggest US group to visit since the 1950-53 Korean War would help normalise relations between the two countries.

Music Director Lorin Maazel conducts the New York Philharmonic Orchestra near a Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) flag during a rehearsal at the East Pyongyang Grand Theater in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday morning, Feb. 26, 2008 ahead of its concert in the evening. [Agencies]

"We have received the same message from the DPRK side that they wish to establish good relations," Mehta told reporters in the news conference.

Mehta said six DPRK musicians had been invited to play one piece with the orchestra during the concert, which was shown live.

Discussions for the concert first emerged last year as significant progress was made in six-way nuclear negotiations among the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.