Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North — documenting a musical exchange
I traveled from Seoul to document the visit of the Munich Chamber Orchestra to Pyongyang. The result is a short documentary titled Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North, which observes a rare cultural exchange between German and North Korean musicians.
The setting
The Munich Chamber Orchestra visited Pyongyang under the direction of Alexander Liebreich. The exchange was organized by the Goethe Institut Korea and took place at the Kim Won Gyun Conservatory.
The project brought together musicians from different backgrounds and working conditions. Rather than framing this as an event, I focused on how the exchange unfolded through practice.
Rehearsals and teaching
At the center of the film are joint orchestra rehearsals and one-on-one chamber music classes. German musicians worked directly with North Korean students, sharing technique and musical structure. Language differences remained present, yet rehearsal created its own form of communication.
Through repetition and listening, a quiet dialogue emerged. I filmed these moments as they happened, without staging or explanation.
A Cinematic Perspective: Nils Clauss as Director/Cinematographer
Invited from Seoul, South Korea, Nils Clauss played a pivotal role as the filmmaker and cinematographer for this project. His lens captured the nuances of the rehearsals, the cultural exchanges, and the closing concert held at the conservatory. Clauss’s documentary skillfully unveils the intersection of classical music and diplomacy.
Filming under limitation
Working in North Korea meant accepting strict limits. Movement, access, and time were controlled. Because of this, I focused on small gestures, sound, and concentration rather than context or commentary.
As director and cinematographer, I approached the project through observation. The camera stays close to faces and instruments, allowing the process to define the structure of the film.
A rare view
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North offers a limited but direct look into North Korea’s classical music environment. The film does not attempt to explain the system around it. Instead, it shows musicians at work—rehearsing, listening, and adjusting to one another.
Music as working language
Despite political and cultural distance, the musicians shared a common practice. Music provided a framework where cooperation became possible without discussion. The film records that process rather than interpreting it.
After the concert
The final concert marked the end of the exchange, but not its significance. The film does not treat the performance as a conclusion. Instead, it remains with the experience itself.
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the North stands as a record of music used as practice rather than message. It reflects how careful observation can document connection, even under constraint.
