Arirang
“Arirang” is a famous song known as a symbol of the Korean nation, reflecting the emotions and desires of its people.
In the past, it was a song of the separation and sadness experienced by a stateless people. Today, the Korean people sing the song full of national pride.
The mass gymnastics and artistic performance “Arirang” consists of a prelude, four sections, titled “Arirang Nation”, “Songun Arirang”, “Arirang Rainbow” and “Reunification Arirang”, and a finale.
The Korean people, deprived of their country, roamed about, separated from their dear homeland. After the liberation of Korea they became the genuine masters of the country and their own destinies. They are now pushing forward the building of a powerful nation, leading a happy life.
The optimistic outlook of the Korean people is depicted well in the work. It is a performance that grasps the hearts of the audience for its philosophical profundity and truthfulness and its strong national character.
“Arirang” is a work of a unique style, combining mass gymnastics and performance art. Lively and romantic gymnastics and acrobatics, beautiful and elegant music and dance, kaleidoscopic backdrops, giant projections, colourful pictures and laster illuminations are perfectly harmonized, with the scenes flowing gymnastically and artistically.
International and national prizewinners and other artistes, athletes, young people, students and children, 100,000 in total, give the performance.
The exquisite costumes have deep national colouring, their bveauty enhanced by the wonderful skills of the cast.
Backdrops, special stages and illuminations give the audience a sense of mystery and excitement.
The backdrops, which reach new levels of sophistication with this show, change like frames from a film, while the special stages, on which wonders take place, seem to flow calmly as if on water, harmonizing with the performers to perfection.
The special effects provided by the lighting equipment set up everywhere at the May Day Stadium add greatly to the impact of the performance.
“Arirang” is a masterpiece that will take a worthy place in Korea’s history.
Korea Pictorial, Pyongyang, DPRK
Juche 91 (2002)