New York Philharmonic To Perform In Cuba

Looks like the New York Philharmonic will be trading tuxedos for Guayabera shirts this fall. President Zarin Mehta and a delegation from the philharmonic are headed to Havana, Cuba to scout the music halls and concert spaces for a tour in the fall.

Orchestra officials said they have been granted travel licenses from the federal government, which agreed to relax the usually tight restrictions against travel to Cuba.

The Cuba event, most likely two concerts over four days, would take place in late October, just a few days after the orchestra returns from an Asian tour that will include Vietnam.

In 2008 the orchestra traveled to North Korea, a first for any major orchestra. The Philharmonic took some heat when they visited the repressive country and there might be some light flak related to a visit into communist Cuba.

High-profile touring “defines the New York Philharmonic, but I think it defines our country,” Mehta told the NY Times. “It’s important that we fly the flag.”

Mr. Mehta said he did not know what Cuba’s broadcast plans might be, and that he planned to ask the Cubans to guarantee access to American journalists. One of the conditions for the orchestra’s visit to North Korea was that officials in Pyongyang guarantee that the concert be broadcast to North Koreans and that journalists be allowed to witness the show.

Kudos to the NY Phil on that one.

The two concerts in Cuba would be under the direction of incoming music director Alan Gilbert; he follows in the footsteps of greats like Leonard Bernstein, Gustav Mahler, and most recently, Lorin Maazel.

Bring back some cigars!