The Philharmonic left Pyongyang for Seoul, where there are no minders, cars fill the roads, shopping is abundant, and a new president was just inaugurated.

Lorin Maazel conducted the State Symphony Orchestra of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at the Moranbong Theater. (Chang W. Lee)
Lorin Maazel led the State Symphony Orchestra of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (the North’s official name) in a brief rehearsal and run-through of the prelude to “Die Meistersinger” and the fantasy-overture “Romeo and [...]

The North Korean hosts offer overabundant food and heat; the New York Philharmonic pays back with gifts of music: on paper as well as in performance.

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More images from the streets of Pyongyang and the Grand People’s Study House.

Students in an English class at the Grand People’s Study House (Chang W. Lee/New York Times)
Audio excerpts from from an English class at the Grand People’s Study House in Pyongyang:
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An English classroom at The Grand People’s Study House (Chang W. Lee/New York Times)

Although officialdom in Pyongyang hates surprises, lest they be unpleasant, the North Koreans are clearly going all out in trying to put on a good impression, letting journalists take pictures freely and ask questions.

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Images from the New York Philharmonic’s arrival and scenes from the streets of Pyongyang and the performance at the Mansudae Art Theater.
Back Story With The Times’s Daniel J. Wakin (mp3)

From left, Lorin Maazel, Song Suk Hwan, vice minister of the Ministry of Culture in North Korea and Paul B. Guenther, the chairman of the New York Philharmonic board, at a performance at Mansudae Art Theater in Pyongyang. (Chang W. Lee/The New York Times)
Related Article: North Korea Welcomes New York Philharmonic
Audio excerpts from the performance [...]

The New York Philharmonic readies to make its historic journey to Pyongyang, North Korea.

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Young Chinese musicians introduced their original compositions to veteran professionals from the New York Philharmonic during the orchestra’s visit to Shanghai.

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The New Yoirk Philharmonic met the Egg on Saturday, performing at the recently opened National Center for the Performing Arts, an ovular-shaped behemoth near Tiananmen Square.

The main event of the New York Philharmonic’s tour, the North Korea visit, began intruding on Saturday despite attempts by orchestra officials to keep it from overshadowing the rest of the tour.

While most of the New York Philharmonic remained in Shanghai on a free day on Friday, three members had duties in Beijing, giving a trio performance at the residence of the American ambassador.

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Images from the New York Philharmonic’s first performance at the Shanghai Grand Theater in Shanghai, China.

Comparisons are inevitable among the New York Philharmonic’s historic trip to North Korea, the Boston Symphony’s to Russia in 1956 and the Philadelphia Orchestra’s to China in 1973.