Songs of peace at primary school (From The Northern Echo)

Songs of peace at primary school

12:49pm Saturday 5th July 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

CHILDREN on Teesside have swapped nursery rhymes for North Korean anthems in preparation for the state orchestra's first visit outside the world's most secretive nation.

As one of the few Westerners to be invited to the last Cold War frontier, celebrated soprano Suzannah Clarke has been given permission by Kim Jong Il to bring the ensemble on tour to Britain.

The first stop will be Middlesbrough - where the North Korean football team beat Italy in a shock result at Ayresome Park during the 1966 World Cup.

Ms Clarke, who has performed in North Korea six times visited Ayresome Primary School to teach a class of six to 11-year-old some of the country's non-political songs which celebrate its culture.

America, which is still technically at war with North Korea has been invited to add a New York or Washington date to the tour which is scheduled for this September or May next year.

Ms Clarke said: "This could be a major peace initiative. It is not simply about singing. Getting our children on stage with this orchestra is the first step to building greater cultural engagement with this country.

"I have spoken to people out there and there is very good feeling towards the British, which is not necessarily the same when you mention America or Japan. Now we have the chance to build on that."

• Print
• Email
• Share