NY Phil postpones plans for Cuba tour
The Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The New York Philharmonic is postponing a planned trip to
Cuba, citing U.S. travel restrictions that prevent patrons from going on
the historic journey to the communist country.
The Philharmonic had received approval from federal agencies for its
musicians and staff to go, but the U.S. Treasury Department determined
that current regulations prevented patrons from accompanying them, a
spokesman said Thursday.
About 150 people who agreed to cover the seven-digit cost of the Oct.
30-Nov. 2 trip had expressed interest in accompanying the orchestra,
said Eric Latzky, the Philharmonic's vice president for communications.
"We have been told by officials at the Treasury Department that the
current regulations governing travel to Cuba does not provide for this
particular category of people," he said. "Without (their) support, this
trip is not financially possible."
Latzky said the orchestra is prepared to reschedule the trip as soon as
possible if the government allows the funders to go.
The U.S. did approve two trips by orchestra officials to Havana this
summer in preparation for the tour.
The trip would have been among the most high-profile American cultural
exchanges with Cuba since Fidel Castro's rebels came to power a
half-century ago. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra made a celebrated
tour of Cuba a decade ago.
The Philharmonic made a historic trip to communist North Korea in
February 2008.
Next week, it begins a 2 1/2-week Asian tour that includes its first
concerts in Vietnam.
NY Phil postpones plans for Cuba tour - Music AP - MiamiHerald.com (1
October 2009)
http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/music/AP/story/1261706.html
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