by James Tweedie

A US orchestra will play concerts in Cuba for the first time in 85 years this month after the travel ban between the two countries was lifted on Tuesday.

The Minnesota Orchestra last played in the Caribbean island nation in 1930 and will at last return for two concerts at Havana’s National Theatre on May 15 and 16.

It will be the first US orchestra to play in Cuba since the historic reversal of Washington’s 55-year policy of economic blockade against the small communist state in December last year.

“We are honoured to have received this invitation from the Cuban Ministry of Culture,” said Minnesota Orchestra presi­dent and CEO Kevin Smith.

“It will be the Minnesota Orchestra’s privilege to perform for audiences in Havana.”

The tour was announced before Tuesday’s granting of ferry service licences to US firms by the country’s treasury.

US holiday companies also attended a tourism fair in Cuba that was scheduled to end today.

Conducted by Finnish music director Osmo Vanska, the Minnesota Orchestra will perform works by Beethoven, Prokofiev and Bernstein in conjunction with the National Chorus of Cuba as part of Havana’s International Cubadisco Festival.

It will also hold exchanges with Cuban music students and a two-hour joint rehearsal with the 80-member Amadeo Roldan Youth Symphony Orchestra.

The tour was funded by board-member Marilyn Nelson.

“We are thrilled that our orchestra will have the opportunity to make this connection in Cuba and represent our wonderful, inclusive community,” she said.