In Wednesday’s (6/22) Korea Times (Seoul), Lee Hyo-won writes, “In 1999, Daniel Barenboim made waves by establishing an orchestra comprised of youths from Israel and Palestine. Maestro Charles Dutoit is pursuing a similar peace-making project for the divided Koreas and is currently negotiating the launch of an inter-Korean orchestra with North Korean officials, said organizers. The 75-year-old Swiss conductor left for North Korea on Monday with violinist Chantal Juillet for a five-day stay until Saturday, said Lindenbaum Music. The two were officially invited by Pyongyang’s Chosun Arts Exchange Association. The musicians will discuss prospects of creating an ensemble made up of young artists from the two Koreas. Foreign artists that previously took part in the Lindenbaum Music Festival in Seoul are also expected to play with the orchestra if the project is finalized. … The orchestra project is propelled by a non-political, peace-making plan, Won Hyung-joon, the executive director of Lindenbaum, told The Korea Times, Tuesday, over the phone. … He added that the orchestra project would not stop short of being a one-time event and hopes to become a long-term one.”
Posted June 23, 2011
