The Pyongyang Concert - New York Philharmonic & Lorin Maazel [Blu-ray]

Bless the Philharmonic, but who decided NOT to make this available on regular DVD (regions 0 or 1)? The monopoly is the group of manufacturers who made Blu-ray the new quad 8-track. And what if someone DOESN'T own a TV, let alone HD? I watch on my PC. Curses, Red Baron - and may you fail with this venture, too.

This Blu-Ray disk is an historic treasure on many levels. Most importantly, it is a pristine high definition recording of a "Nixon in China" event. I think that it may be the beginning of great improvements in US relations with all countries which we have perceived as threatening. Secondly, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and Loren Maazel are brilliant artists and brilliant human beings. Their humanity shines on this recording. The North Koreans loved them and they hunger for contact... whether they will describe it that way or not.

I am a life long lover of classical music, especially recorded music. I date back to the breakthrough days of two channel stereo utilizing an AM clock radio for the second channel along with the 17 inch black and white TV. I have dreamed for fifty years of concerts at home that look and sound like being there. Now we have it. The Pyongyang Concert is a great example in a quickly growing Blu-Ray library of classical performance. I love Blu-Ray. I can't go back. Nothing about the recording irritated me. I loved every minute.

Think for a moment just what the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea is. It is a group of third world people who are trying to elevate themselves beyond the familiar image of struggling for survival. Look at China.... Who has a better idea how this massive number of people could have advanced so far? The Soviet Union was a noble try and I don't think anyone can supply a better idea for advancing so many people so far... so quickly. Yeah, I appreciate communists. Sure it is offensive for us to see lapel pins honoring "The Great Leader." That is what the German fascists called their chief. But do remember this... those German fascists proudly displayed a skull as their headgear emblem. They envisioned an entire world under their rule. The North Koreans just want a little respect and trade. Yes... cults of personality are... disgusting. But maybe they get people through. Can you imagine being an enagaged nation of the world and not noticing how primitive that cult lapel pin looks? Think Big Brother. Well... I get a similar feeling from required flag pins on the lapels of Americans. But... it does not matter. Let these people evolve... and give them credit for trying to develop something new. Sure they are off target... but so are we.

If you don't love the recording of this event... you are hopeless ...and you are a victim of a society that has failed to nurture high culture. That's right... the majority of Americans are victims. There are more Americans who love junk culture than Americans who can sit still for art.

Give the communists credit for recognizing the importance of culture and art. And, while we are at it give credit to the British, the Europeans, ...well most nations, except the USA. We are the culturally poor country because we tend to appeal to people's lowest desires because there is more money in that.

I promise that this beautiful Blu-Ray disk will reward you and make you think. Please also take note that some force amongst us caused many cancellations of the broadcast of this program in the USA. Think why that may have been... and I will remind you how much outrage took place right here when Gorbachev addressed our congress... in early days. There are people who need scary enemies as propaganda tools. They require evil enemies for their projects. I think that all nations can be improved and it can be done without war... maybe just music.

As a S. Korean, who has never been to N. Korea, I really enjoyed this concert and thought the event was meaningful and historic in a once-in-a-lifetime way. At the beginning, the N. Korean audience looked like rather nervous and uncomfortable but as time goes by, they seemed to open their hearts and to be free by the power of music. At the end of the concert, their ovation was almost endless as if they would never let the musicians go. Lorin Maazel, who later mentioned that he'd felt warmth and enthusiasm from the audience, kindly explains about each music he's going to play next with some short Korean sentences, which makes the audience laugh.

New York Phil played many different works including Richard Wagner: Lohengrin, Prelude to Act III; Antonin Dvorak: Symphony No.9 in E minor "From the New World; George Gershwin: An American in Paris; George Bizet: Farandole from L'Arlesienne Suite No.2; Leonard Bernstein: Candide, Overture; Traditional: Arirang. I thought New World Symphony in Pyongyang makes sense and liked the long version (maybe too long?) of the Korean traditional music "Arirang", which was appropriate to play at the end.

Along with the flawless concert, the hi-def documentary "Americans in Pyongyang" is very interesting and enjoyable to watch. You will be able to peek some aspects of N. Korea and people's lives there.

Technically, this EuroArts's very first blu-ray is a bit disappointing, however. The concert was shot in 1080i and AVC coded but birates are around only 10mbps, which means more compression was made than most other blu-rays whose bitates are usually between 20-30. I don't understand why only one layer (25B) was used to include both the concert and the documentary in hi-def. The feature of trailors is available but actually you cannot see them (the click button doesn't work). The audio is excellent with PCM 5.1 and 2.0. A 36 page booklet included.

All in all, this blu-ray is definitely worth getting to enjoy not only the great musical performances but also the historical moments happened in Pyongyang, the last place isolated in the world.