North Korean Orchestra To Tour UK
This just in from the CBC:
And North Korea’s State Symphony Orchestra may be planning to play three concerts in Britain this September, its largest tour to date.
The BBC will broadcast all three concerts live, according to a report Friday on Radio Free Asia.
Neither state sources nor the BBC would confirm the tour, but a spokeswoman for London’s Royal Festival Hall said it is in discussions with the North Korean symphony.
The report said the orchestra of 120 would perform three times in London and Middlesbrough beginning Sept. 9.
An official announcement of the tour is expected in April.
The most pressing question in Miss Mussel’s mind after reading this news was: “Middlesbrough? Really?”
Fortunately, the article provided an answer: “Middlesbrough was chosen because the North Korean soccer team beat Italy there in a 1966 World Cup match, according to British businessman David Heather who said he arranged the tour.” Right then. Very sound logic, that.
Coverage in the NYTimes offers a different reason for the Middlesbrough connection and, curiously, credits an entirely different person with organizing the shindig.
Update 24 March 2008 Mr Heather had kindly written in himself to say that he and Susannah Clarke are working together to organize the concerts.
David Heather | Mar 24, 2008 | Reply
To correct fact, the visit of the DPRK Orcheatra is being orgainised by a committee, of which David Heather and Suzannah Clarke are both members.
Miss Mussel | Mar 24, 2008 | Reply
Ah, well it all makes sense then! Thanks for taking the time to pass along updated information. Much appreciated. Miss Mussel is planning to be in the UK for when these concerts are on and is looking forward to attending.
David Heather | Mar 26, 2008 | Reply
You are cordially invited to attend the Concerts, we will be issuing a full press release in April with all the details.
Miss Mussel | Mar 26, 2008 | Reply
Please do let me know when details become available. It will be my pleasure to experience this extraordinary event.
Carol of Corea | Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
Hello. Was the full press release in April ever released? I am preparing a note about this for a bimonthly bulletin on N Korea, and I want to update this information. The most ‘current’ info. I can find is — this March 26 information. Please help us out. Thanks.
Carol of Corea
Miss Mussel | Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
I don’t think it was. The OM Inbox certainly didn’t catch wind of it. I might suggest that you write to David directly. I’ll send you his contact details via email.