NY Philharmonic Forced To Cancel Cuba Trip

In sad news today, the famed New York Philharmonic has been forced to cancel it's highly anticipated trip to Cuba at the end of October as a result of the U.S. Treasury's refusal to permit the groups donors to attend, the New York Times reports.  According to the Philharmonic, without the patrons and their donations the group cannot afford to go and perform.

Initially, the arrangement had been for nearly 150 board members and other donors to contribute 10K each to the trip, scheduled from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 in Havana where the orchestra would play two concerts.  The trip was scheduled at the invitation of the Cuban government.  The donors had hoped to attend as a means of potentially furthering their own business and building international contacts, in addition to wanting the travel experience and hear the orchestra perform.  The donation money was to cover their travel expenses, as well.

Says Zarin Mehta, President of the New York Philharmonic to the New York Times, "The patrons were excited about giving us the money with the opportunity of going to see Havana and be a witness and support their orchestra... This is what's important to them." Mehta in adamant about not going without his supporters. 

To read the full report in the New York Times, click here.

Writes the Times "The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issues licenses to visit Cuba because of the longstanding economic sanctions aimed at the government of Fidel Castro." According to Mehta, the next opportunity for a Cuban performance would be next summer in June or July. 

Founded in 1842 by a group of local musicians led by American-born Ureli Corelli Hill, the New York Philharmonic is by far the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States, and one of the oldest in the world. It currently plays some 180 concerts a year, and on December 18, 2004, gave its 14,000th concert - a milestone unmatched by any other symphony orchestra in the world.  It is housed at Lincoln Center in Avery Fisher Hall.