Japanese maestro to conduct Beethoven in N Korea

There are so many wonderful Japanese composers whose music could be performed instead. Why not Michiru Oshima, Takayuki Hattori, Sadao Bekku, Sei Ikeno, Masaru Satoh, Ikuma Dan, or Akira Ifukube? Beethoven is boring. If this is truly about cultural exchange, shouldn't Inoue-sensei be promoting some of Japan's exquisite repertoire of contemporary symphonic music instead of overplayed European works from long ago?

First it was google, then globetrotters, now a symphony. What is north korea, a nuke crazy, power hungry, inhumane tyranny or the new Hollywood? Get a grip, either you hand down sanctions or send in the entertainers. What is going to be next Cirque du soleil??

Wonderful Japanese composers? That's the last think N Korea wants! Strange that this type of "cultural exchange" is not covered by the proposed sanctions. Same for Rodman and his nonsense.

Michiyoshi Inoue and members of his orchestra have already arrived in Pyongyang at the invitation of the North’s State Symphony Orchestra ahead of their concert on Friday, the spokesman said.

Rather strange. Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa is going to have a concert this evening.

http://www.orchestra-ensemble-kanazawa.jp/concert.html

Maybe, the conducter is going there alone. Mr. Inoue has conducted Pyongyang National Symphony Orchestra number of times. Last time, he conducted in October 2011. Beethoven's 9th is about world wide brotherhood. His music might change the heart of North Korean leaders. I hope he comes back safely.

I'm sorry CH3CHO but there is no way that music is going to change the hearts of their leaders.

I really don't understand why any of these events are allowed to go on. If the countries don't have diplomatic ties and have all kinds of sanctions in place why is it that they allow anybody to go there. Sure music may not have anything to do with diplomacy nor basketball for the matter, but that doesn't mean that you can just ignore all the atrocities that are being committed in the country by its leaders. Unless they are playing for the political prisoners in the gulags to make their miserable lives better then I see absolutely no point in allowing the elites who cause that misery to enjoy it either.

Forget all the politics. Just go over there, perform, and hopefully inspire.

What is going to be next Cirque du soleil??

MOAB should be next.

A veteran Japanese maestro will conduct Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in North Korea...

Except there it's not called Beethoven's Ninth since it's actually Kim Il Song that composed it back during his guerilla days...

Interesting choice of music. It may be "old" and "European" and "boring" to some, but just as the "Japan has 4 seasons" business can seem old and boring if not properly understood, it's a highly symbolic choice.

During the Nagano Olympics the Ninth was part of the opening ceremony, the first simulcast via satellite from regions represented by the 5 Olympic rings. Japanese technology had dealt with the 1-second time delay making the performance possible. It was a first global performance. Ironically, Berlin, Johannesburg and the Forbidden City--three seats of some of the most abusive political regimes in human history--were among the locations broadcasting.

The moment I heard the opening chords from my television, a mysterious electricity filled the room as I understood the power of what had happened beyond technological marvels to unite the world in deeper harmony. For even more ironic (whether many listeners knew it or not), the original German poem on which the "Ode to Joy" was based is an "Ode to Freedom." Beethoven subversively creating a masterpiece that criticized the Napoleonic regime.

The original German "Frieden" (freedom) was replaced by "Freude" (joy) and other lyrics added by Beethoven. At that time, those who knew poetry understood it immediately (just as readers of The Tale of Genji might understand subtle nuances from references to ancient Japanese poems). If you know this and read the lyrics swapping the words, the work becomes chillingly powerful.

That the Ninth should be the work taken to North Korea is wonderfully appropriate. Who knows? One day that nation, too, may slip the bonds of its oppressors. Throughout history art is often the harbinger of larger political and social change.