“First North Korea. Then Vietnam. Now Cuba,” writes Daniel J. Wakin in Friday’s (7/10) New York Times. “The New York Philharmonic, continuing its travels in the Communist world, is seriously considering an invitation to perform for the first time in Havana. Philharmonic officials plan to travel to Cuba on Friday to look over logistics, the orchestra’s spokesman, Eric Latzky said. The visit would take place in late October, just a few days after the orchestra returns from an Asian tour that will include Vietnam, another first for the Philharmonic. In February 2008, it traveled to the isolated, totalitarian North Korea in a trip that drew wide publicity. In the wake of that visit, several Philharmonic officials had casual conversations with an ABC News official who has contacts with Cuban diplomats in Washington. The ABC official put the two sides together, unofficial contacts ensued, and a formal invitation came last week, Mr. Latzky said. The Cuban visit would last three or four days, he said, and include two concerts. The Philharmonic’s incoming music director, Alan Gilbert, would conduct, as he will for the Asian tour just before.”
Posted July 10, 2009
