The Minnesota Orchestra closed out their whirlwind tour of Havana Saturday night with an awe-inspiring performance of both the Cuban and American national anthems. Classical MPR's Brian Newhouse writes, "'Burst into song' is cliché, but that is exactly what happened, a mix of shock and joy on those faces. An American orchestra playing the Cuban National Anthem? While the roar of applause afterward was still going, the Orchestra went right into the Star-Spangled Banner. That’s when the tears began. The Cubans didn’t know the words, of course, but they instantly knew the music, and the symbolism of playing the two anthems back-to-back."
While the trip was so intently focused on music both in terms of outreach and education as well as performance, it's important to get a final tour of the surrounding area. Photographer Nate Ryan captured the scenes, the performances, and the after-hours fun before the members of the Orchestra boarded their charter back home.
Saturday morning around Havana
Residents of Havana on the street as a pedicab goes by. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Mural of Che Guevara. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Broadcast engineer Johnny Vince Evans riding in a Desoto convertible. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
The Havana skyline. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Desoto convertible dashboard. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Driving down the Malecón. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
A woman smokes outside of a small restaurant. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Banyan tree in Cuba. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Palm trees line the road in Havana. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Havana apartment building. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Hotel Cohiba outdoor dinner. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Motorcycles and travel cases. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Havana street scene. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
A coconut drink on a sunny Sunday morning in Havana, Cuba. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Live performance at Teatro Nacional de Cuba
Featuring performances of the Cuban national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, and pieces by Caturla, Bernstein and Prokofiev.
A musician reviews the score before the May 16th performance. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Bass trombonist Andrew Chappell warming up before the May 16th concert. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Cellist Anthony Ross applies rosin to his bow. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
A view from the Teatro Nacional de Cuba. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
A view from the Teatro Nacional de Cuba. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Guests dropped off in front of the theater. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
A quick candid snap of rehearsal. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan.
Osmo Vänskä takes a bow while concertmaster Erin Keefe looks on. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
The audience, already standing for the Cuban national anthem, applauds. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
The Minnesota Orchestra perform The Star Spangled Banner. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
A view from the strings section. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Tubaist Steven Campbell. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Trumpet player Manny Laureano. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
The woodwinds section of the Minnesota Orchestra. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan.
Osmo Vänskä viewed from behind the harps. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan.
Osmo Vänksä. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
The audience rises to their feet for the first of several ovations. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan.
Osmo Vänskä reacts to the audience's applause. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
The Minnesota Orchestra bows as the audience gives them another standing ovation. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Post-concert at Café Habana
The trip home
Minnesota Orchestra board the Delta charter back to Minneapolis/St. Paul. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Family and fans await the return of the Minnesota Orchestra and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
The musicians arrive through customs. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
A warm welcome from fans at MSP. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
