On the road to Pyongyang...

I was one of the (very) few music types to show up to the NY Phil's press conference this morning to hear in person what the orchestra has planned for its trip to North Korea in February.

Naturally enough, the bulk of the press corps Q&A focused mostly on the diplomatic and political delicacies of this whole adventure. But I did think it useful to ask Zarin Mehta about the choice of repertoire, which is to include Wagner's Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin; Dvorak's Ninth Symphony, and...Gershwin's An American in Paris. Apolitical stuff, to be certain; and surely not much of anything that would point to the cultural or intellectual life of America today.  even the "American-ness" of the program is worth a moment of reflection. Of course, Gershwin is a polyglot in that super-American way, and we all know the "New World"-isms of the Dvorak. But isn't rather interesting that the "American" selections are of a European's views of an (1890's) America, and that the sole American composer represented on this concert is not directly reflecting on his own nation, but instead responding musically to one of the great European capitals?

Mehta didn't think much of my question. He waved it off, saying: "Great music is great music." (He added later, not apropos of my question, "We are going in order to share the joy of music," which begs the question if  such music exists without message, meaning, or context--music as pure entertainment only.) But a moment or two after he answered me and I had already retaken my seat, he added--and not without a certain note in his voice--"Well, what would you have us program? The Chairman Dances?"

ETA: Sorry for the multiple postings--I was updating the blog as I left the press conference, and obviously things went haywire.

2nd ETA: I see that my exchange with ZM made it to the NY Times' coverage this morning, along with that cheeky BBC question about who might be the greater opera composer: Mozart or Kim Jong-Il. 

Comments

[Mimi]

I had read this post before, but not commented, and was thinking about it when I read a newspaper article (and enjoying envisioning you at the press conference) - you bring up a very interesting point that there could be far more "American" songs that what they chose.

Of course, the focus of the article was the fact that they will also play the National Anthem.

[Kate Peters]

When considering a tour to North Korea, of all places, one would hope that the Phil would have asked the same questions you posed when deciding on their repertoire. The dismissal may have been par for the course, but disappointing just the same. You and your audience might be interested in the way that the Pacific Symphony in Orange County is addressing some of those same questions in their American Composers Festival, including a festival blog. Even if we don't all agree, it's great to keep the discussion alive!