Editing New York Philharmonic (section)

====Visit to North Korea, 2008====
{{main|2008 New York Philharmonic visit to North Korea}}
The Philharmonic performed in [[Pyongyang]] at the invitation of the North Korean government on February 26, 2008. The event was the first significant cultural visit to the country from the United States since the end of the Korean War. The concert was held at [[East Pyongyang Grand Theatre]], with a program including the national anthems of both North Korea (''[[Aegukka]]'') and the United States (''[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]''), the Prelude to Act III of ''[[Lohengrin (opera)|Lohengrin]]'' by Richard Wagner, Antonín Dvořák's ''[[Symphony No. 9 (Dvořák)|Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"]]'', George Gershwin's ''[[An American in Paris]]'', Georges Bizet's ''[[L'Arlésienne Suites|Farandole]]'', Leonard Bernstein's ''[[Overture to Candide]]'', and the popular Korean folk song ''[[Arirang]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19320170|title=New York Philharmonic Heads to North Korea|website=npr.org|access-date=May 6, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021164455/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19320170|archive-date=October 21, 2017}}</ref> The Dvořák, Gershwin, and Bernstein works were each originally premiered by the New York Philharmonic.

The visit was anticipated as an opportunity to broaden relations with one of the world's most isolated nations.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/arts/music/10phil.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp | work=The New York Times | title=Philharmonic Agrees to Play in North Korea | first=Daniel J. | last=Wakin | date=December 10, 2007 | access-date=May 20, 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417095349/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/arts/music/10phil.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp | archive-date=April 17, 2009 }}</ref> The U.S. State Department viewed the invitation as a potential softening of anti-U.S. propaganda. In response to initial criticism of performing a concert limited to the privileged elite,<ref>Jens F. Laurson / George A. Pieler "[http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080215/COMMENTARY/541960363 Despote serenade]", ''The Washington Times'', February 15, 2008. Accessed February 16, 2008</ref> the New York Philharmonic arranged for the concert to be broadcast live on [[Media of North Korea|North Korean television and radio]].<ref>Daniel J. Wakin: [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/arts/music/19orch.html?ref=music "Concert in North Korea to Be Broadcast Live"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217123549/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/arts/music/19orch.html?ref=music |date=February 17, 2016}}, ''The New York Times'', February 19, 2008. Accessed February 19, 2008]</ref> It was additionally broadcast live on [[CNN]] and [[CNN International]]. It was also shown on South Korea's Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation to the entire nation of the Republic of Korea (ROK).