Sweet Dreams Are Made of These...

I had the pleasure of meeting musician/songwriter Dave Stewart yesterday who appears at Ravinia on August 29. People may know him as half of famed group the Eurythmics, which busted out hits such as “Here Comes the Rain Again,” “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” and “Would I Lie to You,” among others, but I had no idea the number of songs and artists he has collaborated with over the years until I heard him tell the stories behind his hits.

Who knew that Stevie Nicks was the inspiration behind the hit “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” which Tom Petty crooned in the ‘80s. Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Bono, Jon Bon Jovi, Celine Dion, No Doubt and Sinead O’Connor, these are just a sample of musicians that he’s created songs for and the list goes on and on.

But one of the coolest moments I have to say was when Dave brought out his laptop to show me a video (which is set to be released in a couple weeks) for his new song which he recently wrote with Bono entitled “American Prayer.” The video, which supports Barack Obama, included celebrities singing along with the chorus such as Cyndi Lauper, Oprah, Macy Gray, Whoopi Goldberg and Margaret Cho among others. He asked me who else in Chicago would like to be a part of this video and I started listing off names of the first celebrities to come to mind, all the while hoping that he would ask me to be in it, hey a girl can dream, right? After a TV interview, Dave even got CBS reporter Bill Zwecker to tape a segment for the video.

Dave, I had fun yesterday, good luck with this tour, we can’t wait to have you back to perform. Did I mention that I sing back-up?

Amy Schrage
Associate Director of Communications

Young Artists & Patrons Thrive at Ravinia

The last couple of weeks at Ravinia have spawned a lot of discussion about age and experience. We have had three extraordinary young virtuosos join us – Denis Matsuev, Lang Lang and Chris Thile – and response was remarkable. Matsuev, who is working closely with Vladimir Putin on arts issues in Russia, brought an old-fashioned virtuosity to his concerts with the CSO and in the Martin Theatre – virtuosity that has been regarded as a negative by much of the classical music establishment who seem suspicious of anything that gets a strong, positive audience reaction. Lang Lang brought rock-star glamour and popularity to the Park, spending hours signing copies of his autobiography (yes, at 26 years old, an autobiography!) and talking about his upcoming appearance at the opening of the Beijing Olympics. And Chris Thile, mandolin expert and intrepid bluegrass explorer, wowed his devoted fans. At the other end of the spectrum, Bernard Haitink, Barbara Cook, Charles Rosen and Kiri Te Kanawa have all shone brightly, bringing wisdom, pacing, and the power only experience can deliver to their performances.

One of the many things I appreciate about Ravinia is its welcoming of diversity – not only ethnic, but also age. In the classical music world, where we know that folks begin purchasing tickets to orchestral concerts at age 45, on average, we do everything we can to celebrate and honor our more experienced patrons – from programming, to the start time of performances, to the upgrading of our dining opportunities. And at the same time, one of the happiest sounds at Ravinia comes not from our stages, but from the lawn, where the giggles and gurgles of our youngest patrons inspire smiles all through the Park – kids getting great music and enjoying family time.

One of the first Ravinia patrons I encountered was the dignified and elegant Kay Mayer, a devoted music lover who actually attended the one and only Ravinia performance by George Gershwin in 1936! Kay passed in her sleep recently – she will be sorely missed.

Welz Kauffman
President/CEO

New Friends at Ravinia

It’s been a week of new friends at Ravinia.

First, Feist, and artist who brought a crowd of folks not typically seen at Ravinia – probably more a Pitchfork or Lollapalooza crowd – and folks very welcome at Ravinia and who enjoyed the beauty, serenity, and, by the by, a terrific performance.

Then Bernard Haitink, in his long awaited Ravinia debut, warming up his powerful, searing Mahler 6 with the CSO for their tour together to Europe. The Ravinia crowd, having heard the Sixth last summer under Conlon as part of his Mahler cycle, was bowled over by Haitink’s interpretation and not at all concerned that he’d just done it downtown. Performances such as these, conductors such as Haitink, are few and far between and should be savored whenever they appear – and the weather gods, while predicting 95 degrees, dropped to a balmy 75 by concert time making for a gorgeous evening.

And then there is the Rach/Rock star, Denis Matsuev, blowing everyone away with a Rachmaninoff Third Concerto (exquisitely accompanied by Slatkin and the CSO) with the weather gods providing highly appropriate thunder and lightning topped only by Matsuev’s pyrotechnics. And then he provided a packed Martin Theater with rarities by the Russian master, a sizzling and intimate Second Sonata, and four encores by Russian Romantic giants – Rachmaninoff’s G Minor Prelude (also an encore at the CSO performance but this time captured for WFMT), Scriabin’s fiendishly difficult Op.8 no. 12 Etude, Liadov’s charming Music Box, and Ginsburg’s arrangement of Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg from Peer Gynt – fitting for a true king of the keyboard.

Welz Kauffman
President/CEO

Rock for Reading at Ravinia

In 2004, the National Endowment for the Arts published Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America. Among the many startling statistics about literacy in the United States, the study showed that Americans are spending less time reading, reading comprehension skills are eroding, and these declines have serious civic, social, cultural, and economic implications. Worse yet, approximately one in three Chicagoans is considered functionally illiterate, and Illinois' literacy rate ranks 34 out of the 50 states.

In that same year, musician Alice Peacock decided to do something about it. Peacock founded Rock For Reading, which “leverages the power of ROCK to inspire literacy - motivating and empowering people to enrich their lives through reading.”

Peacock, who calls Chicago home, has played Ravinia twice before. I’m really excited that Ravinia is partnering with her charity for such an important cause. R4R has made some huge strides in promoting literacy here in Illinois, and its success has shown that people and communities working together can make a substantial difference. When she performs at Ravinia Festival in support of John Hiatt on July 18, you can help by bringing gently used books for grades Kindergarten through 8 to donate. Just drop off your donations at the West Gate, then enjoy the concert! If you love reading, have kids that love reading or are still a book-loving kid yourself, please do your part by giving your books to kids who need them.

Liv Swenson
Communications Intern

James Conlon Wins Galileo 2000

Adding to a long and impressive list of awards and honors, American conductor and Ravinia Music Director James Conlon was awarded the Galileo 2000 Prize from the Foundazione Premio Galileo 2000 in Florence, Italy. He is the 12th recipient of the music prize titled the “Giglio d’Ora” (Golden Lily). Conlon was honored for his valuable contribution to music, art and peace.

Debuting in 1974 with the New York Philharmonic, Conlon has appeared with virtually every major North American and European orchestra. Conlon’s immense and diversified symphonic, operatic, and choral repertoire earned him countless other past awards including; the Crystal Globe Award from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in 2007, the Zemlinsky Prize in 1999, and the Opera News Award in 2005. He also received France’s highest distinction – the Légion d’Honneur in 2002.


Heather Haigh
Marketing Intern

Ravinia Participates in Pride Parade

Ravinia Festival took part in the Chicago Gay Pride Parade last weekend. Heather Haigh and Liv Swenson (pictured above left to right) work in the communications department at Ravinia and helped with the WCPT float. They passed out beaded necklaces and light up rings from Ravinia Gifts to the eager crowds. Check out Liv's beads below!

Manager of Retail Operations Jennifer Wood said that the light up rings are a big hit in the store and she has a hard time keeping them in stock. They don't sell the necklaces but the rings are a fun favorite for kids and adults. Be sure to stop by and grab yours from the gift shop the next time you attend a concert or shop Ravinia Gifts online!



Adriana McClintock
Marketing Manager