'Americans in Pyongyang' perform

PYONGYANG, North Korea (CNN) -- Music was the dominant theme Tuesday evening in North Korea's capital, with politics playing a persistent counterpoint.

The New York Philharmonic Orchestra opened its concert in Pyongyang on Tuesday evening with the North Korean national anthem, immediately followed by the U.S. national anthem.

It was the first-ever performance by a U.S. orchestra in that country.

The historic event, clearly based on a theme of friendship, came as the secretive communist nation says it is in the process of dismantling its nuclear program. Watch why concert was "an amazing moment »

During a lighter moment in the concert, the orchestra's musical director, Lorin Maazel, introduced George Gershwin's "An American in Paris."

"Someday a composer may write a work entitled 'Americans in Pyongyang,'" he said, prompting smiles and warm applause.

The orchestra also played Antonin Dvorak's "New World" Symphony and a Korean folk song called "Arirang," beloved in both North and South Korea. Watch orchestra play "Arirang" »

The concert ended with several encores from the orchestra, and standing ovations from the audience. The cheering North Koreans in the audience waved goodbye to the American musicians, who waved back.

Even with the political overtones surrounding the event, Maazel made it clear the focus was the arts.

"We are here to make music," Maazel said at a pre-concert news conference. "We are also here to meet our counterparts here in Korea." Watch Maazel tell why he enjoys meeting other musicians »

But Zarin Mehta, president of the orchestra, said diplomats from both Washington and Pyongyang told him the trip should help in normalization of relations between the two nations, which have often been at odds. Part of the agreement for North Korea's denuclearization, announced last year, included an increase in cultural exchanges.

There had been speculation that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il might attend the concert, but he did not.

The concert, which was broadcast live on North Korean television and radio, was to be the highlight of a 48-hour visit that includes master classes and an open rehearsal for North Korean music students, according to the orchestra.

On Monday night, the New York musicians watched a song and dance show by North Korean performers. The two groups of artists mingled after the performance.

"There was a feeling of warmth and camaraderie that I found most touching," said Maazel, who announced he will conduct a local orchestra on Wednesday morning.

Tuesday night's concert was broadcast live on North Korean television and radio.

"It is my hope that our presence here will be significant to the people who will not be able to attend the concert," Maazel said.

One of the New York Philharmonic musicians is a symbol of North Korea's history -- Michelle Kim, who was born in South Korea to parents who fled from the North.

"This might not solve the problems with the U.S. politically but it will be in their hearts as something to remember," said assistant concert master Kim. Watch how one musician's life reflects Korean divide »

Tuesday's concert in Pyongyang is part of an extended Asian concert series that has already taken the orchestra to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. The orchestra will perform in South Korea on Thursday.

The money for the Asian tour was raised privately, Mehta said, although the North Korean government is providing the orchestra with its lodging.

The visit by the Philharmonic came as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attended Monday's inauguration of South Korea's new president, Lee Myung-bak, in Seoul. Rice had no plans to stop in Pyongyang during a trip that also takes her to China and Japan.

"I don't think we should get carried away with what listening to Dvorak is going to do in North Korea," Rice, a classical pianist herself, said Friday, in a report from The Associated Press. Rice conceded the benefit of the event in giving North Koreans a window to the outside world.

At the time the trip was announced, the group said it accepted an invitation from North Korea's Ministry of Culture only after discussing it with the U.S. State Department. Get a glimpse of life in North Korea »

Musicians preparing for the trip said they hoped personal contacts with North Koreans could help bring the countries closer.

"I think the openness is the most important issue here, and this is going to be the groundbreaking start of the whole thing," concertmaster Glenn Dicterow said at the Beijing airport, according to AP. "We're making music together and playing for the people, and I think that this will be a great, great contribution." E-mail to a friend

CNN's Ed Payne contributed to this report.

Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

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