Photography by Russell Jenkins
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Sights & Sounds of Summer Begin
Bill T. Jones is on site today with the Arnie Zane Dance Company preparing for the Ravinia premiere of Fondly Do We Hope . . . Fervently Do We Pray. You can see this performance at Ravinia in September and look for more sneak peaks throughout the summer.
Photography by Russell Jenkins
Photography by Russell Jenkins
Photo Essay: Backstage with an Artist
Bill T. Jones at Ravinia Festival on May 19, 2009 during an interview with Deborah Pickett. Look for the article this summer in Ravinia Magazine. Photo by Russell Jenkins.
Bill T Jones is one of the most interesting individuals I have had the opportunity to photograph. The energy around this man, this charismatic artist, is unparalleled.
Russell Jenkins
Manager of Graphic Arts and Photography
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Free Wifi in the Park!
Ravinia is now offering free Wifi on the lawn this summer, so bring your favorite mobile device and connect from the comfort of your own picnic! And if you haven’t already, become a Ravinia fan on Facebook, be our friend on Myspace or follow us on Twitter for up-to-the-moment news and updates!
Amy Schrage
Associate Director of Communications
Come One, Come All!
This weekend was our Customer Appreciation Day where Ravinia fans enjoyed a ticket discount, free food tastings and goodies, music performances and a live broadcast on WFMT with Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman and on-air talent Carl Grapentine.
The radio broadcast was full of great chat, music of the season, live performances and call-in interviews with 2009 artists such as Bill T. Jones, Ramsey Lewis, Marc Robin and Sylvia McNair. Beethoven expert Robert Greenberg and Kurt Weill aficionado Kim Kowalke also spoke on the air about the incredible composers that we are featuring and Spiaggia chef Tony Mantuano called in to talk about his guest chef appearance at Ravinia this summer.
It was great to see so many people get a glimpse of the park before we officially open on June 5, taking in the beauty of the greenery and enjoying the beautiful weather today. The season is almost here, can’t wait to see you all in a few weeks!
Amy Schrage
Associate Director of Communications
Welz Kauffman and Carl Grapentine chat about the 2009 season
Ravinia staff helps patrons with their ticket forms
The radio broadcast was full of great chat, music of the season, live performances and call-in interviews with 2009 artists such as Bill T. Jones, Ramsey Lewis, Marc Robin and Sylvia McNair. Beethoven expert Robert Greenberg and Kurt Weill aficionado Kim Kowalke also spoke on the air about the incredible composers that we are featuring and Spiaggia chef Tony Mantuano called in to talk about his guest chef appearance at Ravinia this summer.
It was great to see so many people get a glimpse of the park before we officially open on June 5, taking in the beauty of the greenery and enjoying the beautiful weather today. The season is almost here, can’t wait to see you all in a few weeks!
Amy Schrage
Associate Director of Communications
Welz Kauffman and Carl Grapentine chat about the 2009 season
Ravinia staff helps patrons with their ticket forms
Monday, May 11, 2009
Camelot Update
Conductor Paul Gemignani has agreed to conduct Ravinia Festival’s opening night concert presentation of Camelot. Gemignani will lead Sylvia McNair, George Hearn and Rod Gilfry in director Marc Robin’s original stand-and-sing vision of the show. Erich Kunzel was originally scheduled to conduct, but medical treatments for his recently diagnosed cancer will prevent his appearance at the season opener on June 5. Gemignani last conducted at Ravinia in 2006 when Patti LuPone stepped into the character of Mama Rose for the first time singing “Gypsy” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She later brought the role to Broadway to great acclaim and a Tony Award. Gemignani is a longtime collaborator of Stephen Sondheim and the music director on many Sondheim cast albums. This will be his fourth appearance at Ravinia, where he also conducted Sondheim’s “Passion,” “Sunday in the Park with George” and “Anyone Can Whistle.”
Tickets are available here.
Conductor Paul Gemignani has agreed to conduct Ravinia Festival’s opening night concert presentation of Camelot. Gemignani will lead Sylvia McNair, George Hearn and Rod Gilfry in director Marc Robin’s original stand-and-sing vision of the show. Erich Kunzel was originally scheduled to conduct, but medical treatments for his recently diagnosed cancer will prevent his appearance at the season opener on June 5. Gemignani last conducted at Ravinia in 2006 when Patti LuPone stepped into the character of Mama Rose for the first time singing “Gypsy” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She later brought the role to Broadway to great acclaim and a Tony Award. Gemignani is a longtime collaborator of Stephen Sondheim and the music director on many Sondheim cast albums. This will be his fourth appearance at Ravinia, where he also conducted Sondheim’s “Passion,” “Sunday in the Park with George” and “Anyone Can Whistle.”
Tickets are available here.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Ravinia Receives a Four-Star Rating on Charity Navigator
We got word last week that Ravinia received a four-star rating for the fourth consecutive year from America’s premier independent charity evaluator, Charity Navigator . Charity Navigator rates organizations by evaluating two broad areas of financial health; their organizational efficiency, defined by functional expenses spent on programs, services and mission; and their organizational capacity, which refers to an organization’s ability to sustain its programs over time. They use a set of financial ratios and performance categories to rate each of these two areas and issue an overall rating that combines the not-for-profit’s performance in both areas. Can you believe that only seven percent of the charities evaluated in Charity Navigator’s database have received four consecutive four-star ratings? We are so honored!
Amy Schrage
Associate Director of Communications
Amy Schrage
Associate Director of Communications
Monday, April 27, 2009
From One Great Lawn to Another...
Ravinia isn’t the only famous lawn in Chicagoland. This week we made a visit to the Friendly Confines. The simple spin of a prize wheel brought baseball and music together on Thursday as Chicago Cubs patrons stepped up to Ravinia’s table inside Wrigley Field. At times the line spread down the concourse weaving in and out of other lines for hot dogs and cold beverages on one of the first spring-like days of the year. Those that stopped by spun the wheel for a chance to win lawn passes, a special limited edition baseball themed Ravinia t-shirt, and picnic blankets from Ravinia Gifts. At every home game throughout April and May Ravinia will be giving away a prize pack to one luck seat winner inside Wrigley Field and we’ll be back on the concourse again in May giving away more tickets to your summer at Ravinia!
Heather Haigh
Marketing Assistant
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Ravinia Tours Illinois for Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Ravinia is touring throughout Illinois with a series of free concerts in honor of Lincoln's birth 200 years ago. The tour will follow in the footsteps of the 16th president and features stops at schools, senior centers, and celebrated, as well as lesser known, historical sites. The repertoire includes newly composed works for piano trio that were commissioned through Ravinia's first composition competition.
Follow us on our journey and read about the sites and experiences of this once-in-a-lifetime tour.
Follow us on our journey and read about the sites and experiences of this once-in-a-lifetime tour.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Guest Poetry
ONE AUGUST NIGHT AT RAVINIA
The music, unbound, rises to the clouds
And floats there,
While clouds sway and dance to the erotic melody;
Cicadas provide the background
Against which the crowd fades into nothingness.
And the rhythmic sounds take ownership
Of the night.
Listen to each note as it takes life and moves into
Independent being,
Traipsing softly across the grass,
Flitting from treetop to treetop just out of reach;
Watch closely and you’ll see the
Creatures of the night
Taking up the dance.
The sweet soprano voice of violins
Calls to the throbbing dignified bass
In a language only they can understand.
It is a private party,
With trombones and drums and flutes
As special guests,
While we become voyeurs, eavesdropping
On the intimacy they alone share.
Suddenly an intruder appears
And the notes are chained, not free,
Dancing only at the stranger’s command
In polite and orderly fashion,
Waiting, restrained, until they can escape,
Their wild passions loosing once again
Into the night.
Nadine McBeth 8/5/06
© 8/6/06
The music, unbound, rises to the clouds
And floats there,
While clouds sway and dance to the erotic melody;
Cicadas provide the background
Against which the crowd fades into nothingness.
And the rhythmic sounds take ownership
Of the night.
Listen to each note as it takes life and moves into
Independent being,
Traipsing softly across the grass,
Flitting from treetop to treetop just out of reach;
Watch closely and you’ll see the
Creatures of the night
Taking up the dance.
The sweet soprano voice of violins
Calls to the throbbing dignified bass
In a language only they can understand.
It is a private party,
With trombones and drums and flutes
As special guests,
While we become voyeurs, eavesdropping
On the intimacy they alone share.
Suddenly an intruder appears
And the notes are chained, not free,
Dancing only at the stranger’s command
In polite and orderly fashion,
Waiting, restrained, until they can escape,
Their wild passions loosing once again
Into the night.
Nadine McBeth 8/5/06
© 8/6/06
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
WYNNE DELACOMA
Wynne Delacoma was not only classical music critic for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1991 to 2006, she is also on the faculty of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a regular contributor to Ravinia Program Magazine.
Wagner: Overture to The Flying Dutchman
All the orchestral color and surging tension you could wish to evoke a mighty, storm-tossed sailing ship. Cue it up on your iPod the next time you visit Santiago Calatrava’s Milwaukee Art Museum. Your heart will soar at the sound of Wagner’s music and the sight of the museum poised like a glistening, white bird on the Lake Michigan shore.
Mozart: Act I Trio, “Soave sia il vento” (May the wind be gentle), from Così fan tutte Three minutes of tenderly sublime singing as the opera’s two sisters wish Godspeed to the lovers they think are heading off to war. That the lovers and the old gentleman who joins them in the farewell are playing a cruel trick on the young women doesn’t undermine the lustrous moment.
John Adams: Grand Pianola Music
Movement III, “On the Dominant Divide”
Opening with a brassy rustle in the orchestra, it builds to a thrilling outpouring of relentless, glittering arpeggios on the pianos, culminating in what Adams correctly calls a “flag-waving, gaudy tune.’’ It’s impossible to listen to its heroic bombast without wanting to dance grandly across a very large room.
Dvořák: Aria, “O silver moon,’’ from Rusalka
Sometimes one turn of melody or shift in harmony is enough to bring on the goose bumps. Listen to Renée Fleming or the soprano of your choice nestle into the slowly unfolding peak of this folk-tinged love song and feel your heart melt.
J.S. Bach: Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D minor (BWV 1004) for solo violin
Noble, austere, full of rhythmic vitality and endlessly inventive melody, this is Bach at his most profoundly moving.
Wynne Delacoma was not only classical music critic for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1991 to 2006, she is also on the faculty of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a regular contributor to Ravinia Program Magazine.
Wagner: Overture to The Flying Dutchman
All the orchestral color and surging tension you could wish to evoke a mighty, storm-tossed sailing ship. Cue it up on your iPod the next time you visit Santiago Calatrava’s Milwaukee Art Museum. Your heart will soar at the sound of Wagner’s music and the sight of the museum poised like a glistening, white bird on the Lake Michigan shore.
Mozart: Act I Trio, “Soave sia il vento” (May the wind be gentle), from Così fan tutte Three minutes of tenderly sublime singing as the opera’s two sisters wish Godspeed to the lovers they think are heading off to war. That the lovers and the old gentleman who joins them in the farewell are playing a cruel trick on the young women doesn’t undermine the lustrous moment.
John Adams: Grand Pianola Music
Movement III, “On the Dominant Divide”
Opening with a brassy rustle in the orchestra, it builds to a thrilling outpouring of relentless, glittering arpeggios on the pianos, culminating in what Adams correctly calls a “flag-waving, gaudy tune.’’ It’s impossible to listen to its heroic bombast without wanting to dance grandly across a very large room.
Dvořák: Aria, “O silver moon,’’ from Rusalka
Sometimes one turn of melody or shift in harmony is enough to bring on the goose bumps. Listen to Renée Fleming or the soprano of your choice nestle into the slowly unfolding peak of this folk-tinged love song and feel your heart melt.
J.S. Bach: Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D minor (BWV 1004) for solo violin
Noble, austere, full of rhythmic vitality and endlessly inventive melody, this is Bach at his most profoundly moving.
Monday, August 18, 2008
What Are Your Five Classical Music Picks?
In the current issue of Ravinia Program Magazine, we asked several music professionals to select five pieces that they thought might “hook” a first-time classical listener. Here are my selections. Feel free to tell us what works you would choose. In the coming weeks, we will share other answers with you too. So stay tuned!
John Schauer
Associate Director of Communications, Publications
Ravinia Festival
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
First movement: [Allegro]
Perhaps more than any other Baroque piece, this work for me typifies the thrilling sound of brilliant Baroque orchestration. It’s like Las Vegas neon turned into glorious sound.
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
First movement: Allegro con brio
Sometimes it’s hard not to believe that this is the most thrilling symphonic movement of all time. The final coda—that moment when you first think the movement will end, but instead Beethoven takes off on a final, frantic flight—can really take your breath away.
Rossini: Overture to Guillaume Tell
Baby Boomers and those even older will forever associate the final portion of the “William Tell Overture,” as it is usually called, with The Lone Ranger television and radio series, but that still doesn’t destroy the incredible excitement it can generate.
Donizetti: Sextet from Lucia di Lammermoor
Here is a selection that has been lampooned by many artists, not the least of which are the Three Stooges. When properly sung, it clearly demonstrates the glory of human voices joined in a gorgeous ensemble. And that tune! Just try to get it out of your head.
Tchaikovsky: “Waltz of the Flowers” from The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is performed to death by countless ballet companies every Christmas, but that still hasn’t dulled the luster of this catchy piece. The sudden minor-key interlude by the cellos inevitably brings tears to my eyes.
John Schauer
Associate Director of Communications, Publications
Ravinia Festival
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
First movement: [Allegro]
Perhaps more than any other Baroque piece, this work for me typifies the thrilling sound of brilliant Baroque orchestration. It’s like Las Vegas neon turned into glorious sound.
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
First movement: Allegro con brio
Sometimes it’s hard not to believe that this is the most thrilling symphonic movement of all time. The final coda—that moment when you first think the movement will end, but instead Beethoven takes off on a final, frantic flight—can really take your breath away.
Rossini: Overture to Guillaume Tell
Baby Boomers and those even older will forever associate the final portion of the “William Tell Overture,” as it is usually called, with The Lone Ranger television and radio series, but that still doesn’t destroy the incredible excitement it can generate.
Donizetti: Sextet from Lucia di Lammermoor
Here is a selection that has been lampooned by many artists, not the least of which are the Three Stooges. When properly sung, it clearly demonstrates the glory of human voices joined in a gorgeous ensemble. And that tune! Just try to get it out of your head.
Tchaikovsky: “Waltz of the Flowers” from The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is performed to death by countless ballet companies every Christmas, but that still hasn’t dulled the luster of this catchy piece. The sudden minor-key interlude by the cellos inevitably brings tears to my eyes.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Ravinia's 2008 Gala
Ravinia was recently abuzz with preparations for the 2008 Gala Benefit Evening. Everyone seemed to be working on last minute details to make the night a huge success. I really did not know what to expect, but I did know that I would have the opportunity to get all dolled up which is one of my favorite things to do.
The event is all made possible by the Ravinia Women’s Board, which is made up of 132 talented women from all over the Chicagoland area who are essentially ambassadors for the festival. The members’ goals are to enhance the park experience for everyone and raise money for Ravinia, which is not-for-profit. They host themed nights like the Latin Dance Night, advocate for amenities like the Ravinia Festival Gift Shop, help fund beautiful artwork around the park, continue the festival’s commitment to education and outreach, and so much more.
The Gala co-chairs Bobbie Besant Denison and Claudia Stewart Lane and Women’s Board chairman Jane Casper had been tirelessly planning and organizing this past year to create the fantastic showcase of the park. With Kehoe Designs constructing the romantic décor inside the tent, Jewell Catering prepared exquisite food, and Kiri Te Kanawa showcased the evening performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with James Conlon conducting.
The 1,000 guests enjoyed a cocktail reception sponsored by BMO Capital Markets, while the dinner was sponsored by Aon Corporation, and Howard Stotler sponsored the evening concert for the second year in a row for the largest event hosted by the Women’s Board. Overall the Gala raised about $1.2 million which will help fund Ravinia Festival’s education and community projects.
Words cannot describe the beauty of the night adequately, so I have attached some pictures below to help recreate the grand celebration of Ravinia Festival.
Germaine Maschoff
Communications Intern
The event is all made possible by the Ravinia Women’s Board, which is made up of 132 talented women from all over the Chicagoland area who are essentially ambassadors for the festival. The members’ goals are to enhance the park experience for everyone and raise money for Ravinia, which is not-for-profit. They host themed nights like the Latin Dance Night, advocate for amenities like the Ravinia Festival Gift Shop, help fund beautiful artwork around the park, continue the festival’s commitment to education and outreach, and so much more.
The Gala co-chairs Bobbie Besant Denison and Claudia Stewart Lane and Women’s Board chairman Jane Casper had been tirelessly planning and organizing this past year to create the fantastic showcase of the park. With Kehoe Designs constructing the romantic décor inside the tent, Jewell Catering prepared exquisite food, and Kiri Te Kanawa showcased the evening performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with James Conlon conducting.
The 1,000 guests enjoyed a cocktail reception sponsored by BMO Capital Markets, while the dinner was sponsored by Aon Corporation, and Howard Stotler sponsored the evening concert for the second year in a row for the largest event hosted by the Women’s Board. Overall the Gala raised about $1.2 million which will help fund Ravinia Festival’s education and community projects.
Words cannot describe the beauty of the night adequately, so I have attached some pictures below to help recreate the grand celebration of Ravinia Festival.
Germaine Maschoff
Communications Intern
Friday, August 08, 2008
Nothing Beats a Full House
While this may not be accurate in Texas Hold ‘Em, when it comes to filling Ravinia’s pavilion on those magical summer evenings when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s annual residency is in full swing, this is unquestionable.
Full House® is Ravinia Festival’s grass-roots campaign to increase the average pavilion attendance of CSO concerts. The problem that we must face each season is how exactly do we, nay, all organizations promoting classical music, encourage a younger audience to attend? Or, how do we encourage those who already attend to bring their friends and family?
One of the ways that we at Ravinia go about finding answers to these all-important questions is to host Full House tent parties following designated CSO performances. At these parties, members of Ravinia’s staff, Board of Trustees, and Women’s Board ask concert goers to share their thoughts regarding their experience at that evening’s concert and give us suggestions as to how we can entice new listeners to give us a try.
The feedback that we have received thus far is phenomenally insightful, but we are always happy to hear from our guests. If you attended a CSO concert this summer and would like to tell us about your experience in the park, please visit the Full House section of our website for additional information about the Full House program, and to complete a brief survey.
I would like to extend a big “thank you!” to all those who attended our Full House events, and to everyone who came out to see the CSO this summer. This has been a truly remarkable year, and I am already looking forward to Ravinia’s announcement of the 2009 CSO season this fall!
Ashley Ciesielka
Communications Coordinator
Full House® is Ravinia Festival’s grass-roots campaign to increase the average pavilion attendance of CSO concerts. The problem that we must face each season is how exactly do we, nay, all organizations promoting classical music, encourage a younger audience to attend? Or, how do we encourage those who already attend to bring their friends and family?
One of the ways that we at Ravinia go about finding answers to these all-important questions is to host Full House tent parties following designated CSO performances. At these parties, members of Ravinia’s staff, Board of Trustees, and Women’s Board ask concert goers to share their thoughts regarding their experience at that evening’s concert and give us suggestions as to how we can entice new listeners to give us a try.
The feedback that we have received thus far is phenomenally insightful, but we are always happy to hear from our guests. If you attended a CSO concert this summer and would like to tell us about your experience in the park, please visit the Full House section of our website for additional information about the Full House program, and to complete a brief survey.
I would like to extend a big “thank you!” to all those who attended our Full House events, and to everyone who came out to see the CSO this summer. This has been a truly remarkable year, and I am already looking forward to Ravinia’s announcement of the 2009 CSO season this fall!
Ashley Ciesielka
Communications Coordinator
Friday, August 01, 2008
Exrtaordinary Performances at Ravinia
The honor of presenting Leon Fleisher is one of the great joys of an arts administrator. To be able to present this legend so soon after his 80th birthday and in Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto is icing on the cake. And as a longtime Ravinia patron mentioned to me, she believes it was 60 years ago yesterday that the late, great, and much lamented William Kapell played the same Beethoven Concerto – a fitting and sublime coincidence for two extraordinary American pianists.
It has also been a pleasure this week to see the fascinating Lang Lang profile in the New Yorker and, in the same magazine, mention of the latest Broadway opening for Bill T. Jones, one of Ravinia’s commission-ees for the Lincoln Bicentennial in 2009.
But the true event of recent days was James Conlon’s much lauded performance of the Mahler Eighth Symphony with the CSO, the CSO Chorus in celebration of their 50th anniversary, the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Chicago Children’s Choir and eight terrific soloists. Even the cicadas were charmed, silencing their ecstatic rattle just before the phrase. “The ineffable here is accomplished…”
Welz Kauffman
President/CEO
It has also been a pleasure this week to see the fascinating Lang Lang profile in the New Yorker and, in the same magazine, mention of the latest Broadway opening for Bill T. Jones, one of Ravinia’s commission-ees for the Lincoln Bicentennial in 2009.
But the true event of recent days was James Conlon’s much lauded performance of the Mahler Eighth Symphony with the CSO, the CSO Chorus in celebration of their 50th anniversary, the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Chicago Children’s Choir and eight terrific soloists. Even the cicadas were charmed, silencing their ecstatic rattle just before the phrase. “The ineffable here is accomplished…”
Welz Kauffman
President/CEO
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
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
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
Friday, July 18, 2008
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
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
Saturday, July 12, 2008
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
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
Monday, July 07, 2008
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
Thursday, July 03, 2008
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
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