On Friday, May 15th, Osmo Vänskä led the Minnesota Orchestra in a concert of Beethoven masterworks featuring Cuban artists. In addition to Beethoven's Egmont Overture and Eroica Symphony, they were joined by the Cuban National Choir, Coro Vocal Leo and pianist Frank Fernandez for Beethoven's Choral Fantasy.
Program
Friday, May 15, 7 p.m. (CDT)
Teatro Nacional de Cuba, Havana, Cuba
Minnesota Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä, conductor
Frank Fernandez, piano
Cuban National Choir
Coro Vocal Leo
Digna Guerra, direccion general de coros
BEETHOVEN: Overture to Egmont
BEETHOVEN: Fantasy in C minor for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra, Choral Fantasy
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat major, Opus 55, Eroica
(The Saturday evening concert can be heard here.)
For complete coverage of this historic trip, visit classicalmpr.org/cuba.
Classical Minnesota Public Radio's coverage of the Minnesota Orchestra's historic tour to Cuba is made possible by Glen and Marilyn Nelson. Additional support comes from 3M, Pentair, Ecolab, and from Lorraine Hart.
Photos by Nate Ryan
Host Brian Newhouse, Director of Operations, Rob Byers, Managing Producer Brad Althoff and Technical Director Michael Osbourne. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
The Minnesota Orchestra onstage at the Cuban National Theater, Osmo Vänskä conducting. Joined in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy by Cuban pianist Frank Fernandez; and the Coro Nacional de Cuba and Coro Vocal Leo. May 15th, 2015. MPR photo/Nate Ryan
The Minnesota Orchestra onstage at the Cuban National Theater, Osmo Vänskä conducting. Joined in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy by Cuban pianist Frank Fernandez; and the Coro Nacional de Cuba and Coro Vocal Leo. Havana, Cuba. May 15th, 2015. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
The Minnesota Orchestra onstage at the Cuban National Theater, Osmo Vänskä conducting. Havana, Cuba. May 15th, 2015. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
Audience members watching the Minnesota Orchestra perform at the Teatro Nacional. May 15th, 2015. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
Osmo Vänskä returns to the stage. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Osmo Vänskä prepares the Minnesota Orchestra musicians. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra musicians on stage at the Teatro Nacional. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Osmo Vänskä conducting the Minnesota Orchestra, onstage at the Cuban National Theater. The Orchestra performed their first concert tonight in Havana Cuba, which was broadcast live on Minnesota Public Radio across the US. May 15th, 2015. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
Osmo Vänskä conducting the Minnesota Orchestra, onstage at the Cuban National Theater. The Orchestra performed their first concert tonight in Havana Cuba, which was broadcast live on Minnesota Public Radio across the US. May 15th, 2015. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
Performing an all-Beethoven concert, Vänskä conducts the Minnesota Orchestra. May 15th, 2015. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
The Minnesota Orchestra onstage at the Cuban National Theater, Vänskä conducting. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
The Minnesota Orchestra on stage in Havana. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
The Minnesota Orchestra takes a bow after performing Beethoven's Eroica. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
Osmo Vänskä thanks the Cuban audience. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
The Minnesota Orchestra performed their first concert tonight in Havana Cuba, which was broadcast live on Minnesota Public Radio across the US. Cuba, May 15th, 2015. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
View from the Teatro Nacional. May 15th, 2015. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
Inside the broadcast booth at the Teatro Nacional.
Outside the Teatro Nacional before the Minnesota Orchestra's concert. May 15th, 2015. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
Outside the Teatro Nacional before the Minnesota Orchestra's concert in Havana Cuba. MPR photo / Nate Ryan
Exterior sign for Teatro Nacional de Cuba. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
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