Inter-Korean musicians to form joint orchestra

Classical music performers from South and North Korea will form a joint orchestra to hold concerts in Seoul and Pyongyang.

Upon returning from a four-day tour of North Korea, Chung Myung-hoon, conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and goodwill ambassador of UNICEF, said Friday, "We exchanged a letter of intent with the (North) Korean Association for Art Exchange to continue regular music exchanges, including performances by a joint orchestra."

The association is in charge of external cultural exchanges in the North, and recently pushed a joint inter-Korean youth concert with conductor Charles Dutoit.

Chung said, "I hope to perform Beethoven`s Ninth Symphony in Seoul and Pyongyang at year`s end. Since the North wants to hold the event at the time and the South Korean government is not reportedly opposed to this, we have no reason to wait further."

He said he agreed with the North`s art exchange association to jointly discover and nurture young performers.

In his visit to the North, the conductor said he met members of the Pyongyang National Symphony Orchestra and Eunhasu (Galaxy) chamber orchestra, hosted a rehearsal, and conducted an audition.

"I wanted to meet North Korean performers throughout my life, but the efforts proved futile due to political reasons," he said. "I was able to visit North Korea in a matter of several days because former French Culture Minister Jacques Lang, a close friend of mine, introduced me to North Korean officials."

lycho@donga.com