The Reinvention of Ravinia?
Thursday July 9, 2009
by Tom Mullaney
This summer, the Ravinia Music Festival seems to pack more musical punch.
I have circled more must-go dates this season than in several past summers, including many of the programs in its noteworthy Lincoln Bicentennial tribute that I wrote about earlier on this site.
And newly-installed video screens in the Pavilion will add to patrons’ enjoyment. Credit for this happy state of affairs must go to Welz Kauffman, Ravinia’s major domo, and his artistic team.
Kauffman may also be feeling the need to counter the challenge posed by the upstart Grant Park Music Festival. That organization’s orchestra, reenergized by its music director, Carlos Kalmer, and its move to the spectacular Frank Gehry-designed bandshell in Millennium Park, is drawing much larger audiences (probably siphoning off many former Ravinia fans).
Ravinia’s creative response is a season full of birthdays and special anniversary concerts. It began last month with rocker Joe Cocker marking the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. This month also features five anniversary observance events, which began with the forgotten bicentennial, that of composer Felix Mendelssohn’s First on July 7 and Fourth Symphonies on July 10.
The festivities next mark the Burnham Centennial (he was a Ravinia trustee) on July 15th with one of the architect’s favorite works, Wagner’s music for Siegfried’s funeral from “Gotterdammerung." The month ends with the 10th Anniversary of pianistic superstar, Lang Lang’s (pictured above) debut at Ravinia. He will perform Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto on July 26th with the Chicago Symphony and then join jazz artist, Herbie Hancock, for some musical fireworks on July 28th.
Sir James Galway, he of the golden flute, will mark his 70th birthday on August 9th with the CSO and return on August 11th to kick up his heels with the Latin band, Tiempo Libre.
Kauffman’s season-long strategy has been as simple as 1, 2, 3. Take one Chicago premiere (Jennifer Higdon’s “Concerto 4-3”) on July 24, mix with two commissions for the Lincoln Bicentennial—one by jazz artist Ramsey Lewis and another by choreographer Bill T. Jones and add three world premieres (Lewis’ “Proclamation of Hope: A Symphonic Poem” and Jones’ “Fondly Do We Hope…Fervently Do We Pray” and Lita Grier’s song from Spoon River Anthology). Voila!
This summer, especially if you’ve been away for some time, Ravinia is definitely worth your while as it recaptures much of its musical mojo.
This summer, the Ravinia Music Festival seems to pack more musical punch.
I have circled more must-go dates this season than in several past summers, including many of the programs in its noteworthy Lincoln Bicentennial tribute that I wrote about earlier on this site. And newly-installed video screens in the Pavilion will add to patrons’ enjoyment. Credit for this happy state of affairs must go to Welz Kauffman, Ravinia’s major domo, and his artistic team.
Kauffman may also be feeling the need to counter the challenge posed by the upstart Grant Park Music Festival. That organization’s orchestra, reenergized by its music director, Carlos Kalmer, and its move to the spectacular Frank Gehry-designed bandshell in Millennium Park, is drawing much larger audiences (probably siphoning off many former Ravinia fans).
Ravinia’s creative response is a season full of birthdays and special anniversary concerts. It began last month with rocker Joe Cocker marking the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. This month also features five anniversary observance events, which began with the forgotten bicentennial, that of composer Felix Mendelssohn’s First on July 7 and Fourth Symphonies on July 10.
The festivities next mark the Burnham Centennial (he was a Ravinia trustee) on July 15th with one of the architect’s favorite works, Wagner’s music for Siegfried’s funeral from “Gotterdammerung." The month ends with the 10th Anniversary of pianistic superstar, Lang Lang’s (pictured above) debut at Ravinia. He will perform Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto on July 26th with the Chicago Symphony and then join jazz artist, Herbie Hancock, for some musical fireworks on July 28th.
Sir James Galway, he of the golden flute, will mark his 70th birthday on August 9th with the CSO and return on August 11th to kick up his heels with the Latin band, Tiempo Libre.
Kauffman’s season-long strategy has been as simple as 1, 2, 3. Take one Chicago premiere (Jennifer Higdon’s “Concerto 4-3”) on July 24, mix with two commissions for the Lincoln Bicentennial—one by jazz artist Ramsey Lewis and another by choreographer Bill T. Jones and add three world premieres (Lewis’ “Proclamation of Hope: A Symphonic Poem” and Jones’ “Fondly Do We Hope…Fervently Do We Pray” and Lita Grier’s song from Spoon River Anthology). Voila!
This summer, especially if you’ve been away for some time, Ravinia is definitely worth your while as it recaptures much of its musical mojo.
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