The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Andreas Delfs, became the first major American orchestra to perform in Cuba since the U.S. imposed an embargo on the island 37 years ago. The goodwill concerts included a gala performance on December 17th by the 88-member ensemble, an educational concert, an open rehearsal for members of the Cuban National Orchestra, plus a meet-and-greet reception for students at the Havana Conservatory of Music.

In January of this year, President Clinton loosened certain restrictions with Cuba that improved the “people-to-people” contact, including the start of cultural exchanges. Fortuitously, Music Director, Andreas Delfs, 40, recognized the opportunity in this relaxation of U.S. rules restricting Americans’ from contact with Cuba and initiated this good will tour.

This MSO tour is the first professional orchestral cultural exchange and was one of Cuba’s first direct encounters with American culture in almost four decades. The U. S. Treasury Department had approved the three-day trip.