Ravinia Experience 2007 Contest

Got a favorite memory of attending Ravinia this summer you'd like to share? Send it to webmaster@ravinia.org for a chance to win a prize. Whether it's meeting that someone special, enjoying a great night of music or picnicking under the stars, we'd like to hear from you. Entry must be received by 5:00 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, September 5.

Gipsy Kings, Friday, August 17

Friday night’s Gipsy Kings show at Ravinia proved to be one of the peaks of the season. The Gipsy Kings, hailing from the South of France, brought out Chicagoland and beyond as they churned out two hours of world music hits. The lawn came alive as always but this time with patrons demonstrating their best flamenco and salsa moves. Every concrete surface in the park was at once converted into a vibrant dance floor. The party extended to the Pavilion, where Gipsy Kings front man, Nicolas Reyes, brought hands together and crowds to their feet-- ¡Levantemonos! There was no lack of crowd interaction—I even found myself answering, “¡Bien!” to Nicolas Reyes’ frequent question “¿Cómo están ustedes?” Having never seen the Gipsy Kings live before their Aug. 17 performance, it was such an amazing sight to see them here at Ravinia—and the crowds they drew were no less entertaining.

Farah Ansari
Communications Intern

Gala Benefit Evening

Caroline Huebner, Audrey Rubinstein, and Jane Casper

Caroline Huebner, Jane Casper, James Conlon, Ana Maria Martinez, Plácido Domingo, and Audrey Rubinstein

Inside the tent

Zarin Mehta, Carmen Mehta, and Welz Kauffman

Welz Kauffman, Mamie Case, and Greg Case

Judy Lavin and Michael Lavin

On August 4 the Ravinia Festival held its annual Gala Benefit Evening hosted by the Women’s Board of Ravinia Festival. Having never been to an event like this, I was excited and anxious about what to expect. I didn’t realize how many people and how much work it took to pull off such a large event. My task that evening was to work with one of the photographers and document all the people in his pictures. From this perspective, I was able to see the event from every angle. The Gala was a great success, with magnificent performances by Plácido Domingo, Ana María Martínez and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ravinia Music Director James Conlon.

Crystal Globe Award Goes To Conlon!

Left to right: Jennifer Ringo, James Conlon, Audrey and Michael Rubinstein

After a wonderful performance of Alexander Zemlinsky's "The Mermaid" by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra led by our music director James Conlon, the Anti-Defamation League honored Conlon at a post concert dinner for his efforts championing the works of composers silenced by The Third Reich, giving him the Crystal Globe Award. The State of Illinois also issued a proclamation to congratulate Conlon on being honored by the ADL and he received personal congratulatory letters from Illinois Senators Barack Obama and Richard Durbin, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. General Chairs for the dinner were Audrey and Michael Rubinstein. Congratulations, James!

Amy Schrage
Associate Director of Communications

Sculpture Highlights from Ravinia

Sculpture Highlights from RaviniaA gift from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mayer of Winnetka, IL, Sorel Etrog’s Survivors Are Not Heroes joined the Ravinia Festival’s south lawn in 1991. Like many of Etrog’s sculptures, Survivors attempts to communicate the tensions and interactions between man and machine. Though Survivors is made of bronze, Etrog has often tried to make the medium the message, as his one-time collaborator, Marshall McLuhan, would say. Etrog also worked with wood, bolts and screws, hinges, and steel constructions.

Farah Ansari
Communications Intern

Romance at Ravinia

In August of 1995, my fiancé George and I went to Ravinia to see George
Benson perform. It was a beautiful summer night although a bit chilly
in the evening. After dinner, George asked for his jacket and I'm
thinking "he's never cold". He proceeded to take a box out of the
jacket pocket and there it was: A beautiful diamond ring! On his knee
he went and proposed that evening to me! We had a fabulous night and
people sitting around us applauded and took pictures. We bought that
year's poster to commemorate the event and it is still hanging in our
home. On the bus ride to our car, I went around showing everyone and
again applause and good wishes were bestowed upon us. We had a
wonderful evening and every year when we go to Ravinia, we take a walk
around the park and visit "our spot" and reminisce about that evening.
Ravinia has always been our most favorite place to go each season and
now it's even more special to us.

Linda Van Geem
Ravinia Patron

Do you have a story to share about your favorite Ravinia memory? E-mail it to webmaster@ravinia.org.

Albin Polasek's "Elizabeth"

The sculptures located throughout the Ravinia Festival have complex histories and stunning features. My personal favorite among these works of art is a subtle yet remarkable sculpture. “Elizabeth” is a beautifully sculpted bronze statue located on the northeast section of the Ravinia Festival lawn. Created by Czech artist Albin Polasek, “Elizabeth” reveals the free spirited air that children possess. It expresses fluidity and motion with its smooth lines and curves and polished surface. What is most fascinating is that Polasek created this work in 1956, after he had suffered from a stroke that paralyzed the left side of his body. Sculpting such an exquisite work of art with one hand is an achievement that evokes amazement among spectators. The Ravinia Festival is honored to have such a talented artist’s creation amplifying its collection.

Juliane Chalabi
Communications Intern