NY Philharmonic to perform in DPRK

NEW YORK, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The New York Philharmonic will perform in Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Feb. 26, Zarin Mehta, the orchestra's president and executive director, announced on Tuesday.

During the 48-hour visit, the orchestra will play the national anthems of both the U.S. and the DPRK. The program will include Gershwin's "An American in Paris" and Dvorak's "New World Symphony," Mehta said.

Pak Gil Yon, the DPRK's United Nations ambassador, attended Tuesday's announcement at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan.

"This visit will surely deepen the understanding and cultural relations of the two countries," Pak said.

During the visit, orchestra members will conduct master classes with DPRK musicians and perform an open rehearsal before an evening concert, Mehta said.