Adding yet another international destination to their already impressive repertoire, the New York Philharmonic has been invited to perform in Cuba .
By Daniel J. Wakin

New York Times - July 9, 2009 - Update - 3:31 p.m. Arts Beat

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/arts/music/10phil.html?ref=arts

The New York Philharmonic, hoping to notch another exotic destination in its touring history, said on Thursday it had been invited to perform in Cuba and was seriously considering such a visit.

The orchestra's president, Zarin Mehta, and other of its officials planned to travel to Havana on Friday to investigate concert halls, hotels and other logistical matters. The Philharmonic has received licenses to travel there, in light of the United States embargo.

The trip would be yet another recent dip into cold-war waters for the Philharmonic. It would take place just a few days after the orchestra returns from an Asian tour in October that will include Vietnam. Last year it traveled to isolated, totalitarian North Korea. The Philharmonic said that it had never been to Vietnam or Cuba, and that the North Korea visit was a first for any major orchestra.

A tour of Cuba would further etch the image of the Philharmonic as America's musical ambassador, a profile that orchestra officials are eager to promote. The North Korea trip was a publicity boon, winning the ensemble wide attention outside of classical music circles - an increasing rarity for classical music institutions in recent decades.

High-profile touring "defines the New York Philharmonic, but I think it defines our country," Mr. Mehta said.

"It's important that we fly the flag," he added.

If the trip comes off, it would probably last four days, starting on Oct. 30 - five days after the orchestra returns from Asia, Mr. Mehta said. It would most likely give two concerts. The Philharmonic's incoming music director, Alan Gilbert, would conduct during both tours.

The Philharmonic's decision to move forward with the trip comes after the Obama administration has eased some sanctions against Cuba, including limits on visits by Cuban-Americans to relatives and the sending of gifts and money.

Mr. Gilbert called a Cuban visit "entirely appropriate" and said, "It's probably not a coincidence that it's happening at this time."

Orchestra officials also took pains to say the trip had strong United States government approval. The idea was run past the office of Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., Mr. Mehta said. "They said, `Absolutely, it's a wonderful project, and you should pursue it,' " Mr. Mehta said.

Representatives Charles B. Rangel and Steve Israel, along with Senator Charles E. Schumer, all Democrats of New York, also approved, he said. And leading board members of the Philharmonic and the orchestra's tour committee are in favor of the trip, Mr. Mehta said.

The Cuban invitation came in the wake of the North Korea trip. Several Philharmonic officials had casual conversations with an ABC News official who has contacts with Cuban diplomats in Washington, Eric Latzky, the orchestra's spokesman, said. The ABC official put the two sides together, unofficial contacts ensued, and a formal invitation came last week, Mr. Latzky said.

The orchestra took some criticism for agreeing to visit such a closed and repressive country as North Korea. Orchestra officials said that among the conditions for agreeing to go to Pyongyang was a guarantee from the North Korean government that the concert be broadcast to North Koreans and that journalists be allowed in.

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.

Yet orchestra officials also played down any comparison to the North Korea trip. Mr. Gilbert said he would not be surprised by a "healthy discussion" over a Cuban version. "My sense is that the prevailing feeling will be positive," he said. "I think that music really does speak for itself." He called the Cuba trip a nonpolitical "cultural exchange."

"It's actually as straightforward as what it seems," Mr. Gilbert said. "We're playing music for appreciative audiences."