N.Y. Philharmonic to play in North Korea

PYONGYANG, North Korea, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The New York Philharmonic Monday prepared to play a historic, 90-minute concert in communist North Korea's East Pyongyang Grand Theater, featuring Dvorak.

The famed orchestra, which was invited to perform by North Korean authorities, is scheduled to play Dvorak's symphony No. 9 "From The New World" and George Gershwin's "An American in Paris," as well as the U.S. and North Korean national anthems at Tuesday night's concert, the Yonhap news agency reported Monday.

"This journey is a manifestation of the power of music to unite people," orchestra Executive Director Zarin Mehta told Yonhap. "It is our sincere hope that these concerts will aid in the beginning of a new era between the peoples of our nations."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice described the planned concert as a "good thing," but cautioned against reading too much into its significance.

"The North Korean regime is still the North Korean regime. And so, I don't think we should get carried away with what listening to Dvorak is going to do in North Korea," Rice said.