China Philharmonic to perform for Pope

By Guo Shipeng and Benjamin Kang Lim

BEIJING (Reuters) - China Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Yu Long sees parallels between his upcoming performance for Pope Benedict and the New York Philharmonic's ice-breaking concert in Pyongyang in February.

In both cases, orchestras were being used to set the mood music for diplomatic warming.

"You can make that comparison. If music as a universal language can make a contribution to diplomacy or world peace, I will be very happy," Yu told Reuters as he prepared to travel to Rome for the May 7 concert in the Vatican audience hall.

"Both trips bring people a positive message through music," the 43-year-old German-educated conductor said.

"It is a very special concert for me and a great honor to be able to play for the Holy Father," said Yu, who performed in 22 cities in North America and Europe in 2005.

The China Philharmonic is to leave for Rome on Sunday. Its performance for the Pope will be an unprecedented gesture that Vatican sources said could signal a thaw in often icy relations.

Beijing and the Vatican severed ties after the 1949 Communist revolution and have sought in recent years to normalize relations. But a dispute over who has the say in the appointment of bishops has impeded detente.

The Holy See recognizes Beijing's diplomatic rival Taipei.