STATE MERITED CHORUS AND MORANBONG BAND

Pyongyang, December 9 (KCNA) -- The State Merited Chorus, organized on February 22, Juche 36 (1947) as an art troupe of the armed forces, has fully displayed the might of Juche oriented art. The Moranbong Band, which gave its premiere in July Juche 101 (2012), are ushering in the heyday of Juche-oriented art.

DPRK CHORUS AND BAND'S CHINA VISIT, FOCUS OF WORLD PUBLIC

Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- The world is now focusing on the China visit of the DPRK's State Merited Chorus and Moranbong Band.

The Chinese people show keen interest in those art troupes' performance tour of their country. Lu Chao, a researcher of the Liaoning Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told China's Global Times on Dec. 9 that their performance tour goes to prove that China and the DPRK has made a substantial progress in the field of high-level cultural exchange.

A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry told reporters that the performance tour by the DPRK's art troupes favors the interests of the two countries and it is profitable for the regional peace and stability. Meanwhile, world media vie with each other to report about the China visit of the DPRK's art troupes.

In an article titled "Famous two art troupes of the DPRK visit China for performance" on Dec. 10, China's Global Times said that the China visit by the two most famous art troupes of the DPRK is drawing the attention of the world.

Choongang Ilbo of south Korea said that the State Merited Chorus of the DPRK had been under the special care of leader Kim Jong Il and it gave performances whenever state leaders of other countries visited the DPRK and important celebrations took place in the country.

Yonhap News, Dong-A Ilbo and MBC of south Korea, too, reported about the timetable of those art troupes' performances in China.

Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun said it is the first time for the DPRK's all-female Moranbong Band to give its performance in foreign countries. The Kyodo Press reported that diplomats and experts are closely watching what sort of important statesmen will be included in audience.

BBC introduced the Moranbong Band in detail, saying that it is known for its energetic performances and the numbers performed by it include such typical Korean songs as "We Think of the Marshal Day and Night" and "Pyongyang Is Best" and Western-inspired numbers.

WORLD'S BEST CHORUS TROUPE

Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- The State Merited Chorus of the DPRK, which is on a friendship performance tour of China together with the Moranbong Band, is a national treasure and pride for having many veteran creators, talented vocalists and instrumentalists and other famous artists, who were awarded the titles of People's Artists, People's Artistes, Merited Artists and Merited Artistes.

After enjoying the performance given by the chorus, the head of a delegation of the Warsaw Group for the Study of the Juche Idea in Poland said that through the performance, he could feel the stamina and will of the Korean people who are advancing along the road of victory, overcoming all difficulties.

The performance made me know well about the arts of the DPRK attaining the perfect state, the music-based politics of the respected Marshal Kim Jong Un and the source of inexhaustible strength of the Korean people, he stressed.

 A press official of the Central Military Orchestra of the Ministry of Defense of Russia said the performance of the chorus was beyond imagination and very excellent, praising the State Merited Chorus of the DPRK as the world's best chorus troupe.

A Dominican figure in his poem highly praised the martial songs of the chorus for imbuing the people with confidence and courage.

MORANBONG BAND POPULAR AMONG DPRK PEOPLE

Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- The citizens in the DPRK have praised the Moranbong Band, now on a friendship performance tour of China together with the State Merited Chorus, as an art troupe of national treasure for its peculiar artistic influence.

Performances given by the all-female band are fresh and innovative in vocal and instrumental music, stage structure and other aspects.

Its singers are full of vim and vigor and they have strong personalities. In such numbers as songs "Dash toward Future", "Campfire, Flare Up" and "At the Spring Site", they draw deep attention of the audience through display of their nimble movements and refined ensemble.

Its instrumental ensembles, mainly based on electronic stringed instruments, are also very attractive as they are diverse and unique in melody and style. Typical of them is a string quartet "It Is October", excellent and flawless in harmony of tone quality, virtuosity and modulation.