For first time in years, major US orchestra performs in Cuba
Source: Associated Press
For first time in years, major US orchestra performs in Cuba
By BETH J. HARPAZ, Associated Press | May 14, 2015 | Updated: May 16, 2015 12:49am
HAVANA (AP) The Minnesota Orchestra played to a sold-out house Friday night in the first performance in Cuba by a full professional U.S. orchestra since 1999, coming just months after the two Cold War rivals announced a thaw in relations.
Few of the visiting Americans speak Spanish, but "the universal language of music" was all they needed, said Mele Willis, the orchestra's artistic operations manager.
The performance at the 2,000-seat National Theater, which was broadcast live in Cuba and on Minnesota Public Radio, included famed Cuban pianist Frank Fernandez and the Cuban National Choir. Fernandez was presented with a bouquet, then pulled some of the flowers loose and handed them to a few of the Americans in the orchestra.
A thrilled crowded gave the concert a standing ovation. Omar Fernandez, a Cuban who works for a Canadian travel agency in Havana, attended with his wife and young son. "We love music. And this is very important," he said when asked why he came.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/For-first-time-in-years-major-US-orchestra-6265065.php
marym625
(17,997 posts)K&R
longship
(40,416 posts)Here is some simple keyboard music written centuries ago that is so sublime...
it takes ones breath away.
However, the Minnesota Orchestra has a long history of musical excellence. Click the link if you doubt that. I cannot think of a better cultural representative of the US.
Plus, they are undoubtedly Minnesota nice.
livetohike
(22,084 posts)djean111
(14,255 posts)A great documentary about bringing the Cuban band to Carnegie Hall, in 1998. A lot of great information about musicians in Cuba. One of my favorite movies/documentaries.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0186508/
Music is indeed the universal language.
cemaphonic
(4,138 posts)One of the most amazing lineups of legendary musicians since the dawn of recorded music.
Judi Lynn
(160,213 posts)[center]
Young Compay Segundo, Fidel Castro, wearing Compay Segundo's hat!
It was a tradition in later years for Compay to donate his famous hat to
a fund raiser for a Cuban children's hospital. It always brought in thousands
and thousands of dollars, in our currency terms.
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They were beloved world-wide, every where but here. We already had Roger Miller, "Dang Me," ourselves.
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Omara Portuondo
Ibrahim Ferrer
Eliades Ochoa
Rubén González [/center]
Another, younger band, is Los Van Van, who appeared in Miami probably 15 years ago or more, where they attracted a hostile crowd of Cuban "exiles" who crowded around the auditorium, threw D cell batteries, frozen cans of Coca Cola, rocks, bags of excrement, not to mention filthy curses and spitting at concert goers as they tried to make their way inside.
It will be fantastic to see that crowd lose this war against Cubans.
mountain grammy
(26,568 posts)We travel around the US but I make foreign trips alone. He really wants to go to Cuba. Hooray, finally a stamp on his passport and a trip outside the US with my hubby. Next year, we hope.
Thanks for posting. We loved this story.
CatholicEdHead
(9,740 posts)Classical Minnesota Public Radio broadcasts it locally and APM sends it across the country live. There is a second concert tonight at 7pm CT. Catch it if you can on your local public radio station or online at http://www.classicalmpr.org
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Looks like there were video cameras there too: http://www.classicalmpr.org/blog/classical-notes/2015/05/16/photos-minnesota-orchestra-perform-at-teatro-nacional-in-havana-cuba
So hopefully we'll get to see the full performance visually as well (maybe a documentary?).
HelenWheels
(2,284 posts)Events like this will serve to cement good relations between Cuba and the US. I hope the die hard Cubans in Florida see this.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,271 posts)The orchestra is also giving workshops for kids, which are apparently a huge hit; and they are also getting some much-needed instrument parts for them (apparently there's a way to do this that doesn't violate the stupid-ass trade embargo). This is a great thing they are doing.
FairWinds
(1,717 posts)One of Cuba's many charms is that many of them are
not motivated by the relentless pursuit of money,
and spend considerable time on other pursuits
such as culture.
They have many really talented dancers, musicians, athletes,
etc.
Judi Lynn
(160,213 posts)NBachers
(17,000 posts)stonecutter357
(12,682 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,213 posts)[center]
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