Ravinia's Summer Conservatory, RSMI, Send Alumni to the Festival's Stages

Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute awards 60–70 fully paid fellowships each summer to the world’s finest young professional musicians to immerse themselves in the festival and study with the stars.

Many of the alumni of this intensive and competitive program have gone onto illustrious careers, including four who are members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In fact, 17 alumni will perform at Ravinia this summer with the CSO, The Knights, the Juilliard String Quartet, in Ravinia’s operas and on the $10 BGH Classics series. Ten current RSMI faculty members will also perform, including violinists Miriam Fried and Midori, soprano Kiri Te Kanawa and pianist Kevin Murphy.

Pulitzer- and Grammy- Winner Caroline Shaw and Brad Wells Chat Live Feb 24

In advance of Ravinia’s March 29 concert by Roomful of Teeth, featuring a performance of the Pulitzer Prize- and Grammy-winning Partita for Eight Voices, director Brad Wells and composer-member Caroline Shaw will participate in a live video question-and-answer session. To make sure your question gets answered, tweet it in advance @RaviniaFestival with #RoomfulQA, then join the imaginative collaborators live at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at Ravinia.org/RoomfulQA.aspx. Reserved tickets for the group’s Ravinia debut are only $10, or $40 inclusive of dinner. In addition to the much-lauded Partita, the program will include works by Rinde Eckert, Caleb Burhans, Judd Greenstein, Brad Wells and Merrill Garbus. 

Throwback Thursday: Seiji Ozawa & Igor Stravinsky

In 1965 the legendary Igor Stravinsky sat down with then-Ravinia Music Director Seiji Ozawa to discuss his upcoming program. On the evening of July 8, Stravinsky, along with protégé Robert Craft, led the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on a program including Handel’s Concerto Grosso in B-flat Major* (arranged by Schoenberg) and two of his own works: the Symphony in Three Movements and The Fairy’s Kiss (Le baiser de la fée). What a treat for the audience that evening!

*In the repetoire archive, Webern’s Six Pieces for Orchestra was supposedly performed in place of the Handel piece, but it has not been independently confirmed yet.

Century and A Half Since Losing America's First Great Songwriter

Yesterday marked the 150^th anniversary of the death of American composer, Stephen Foster.  Known for such traditional American fare as  "Oh! Susanna" (1846),  "Camptown Races" (1850), "Nelly Bly" (1850), "Old Folks at Home" (also known as "Swanee River," 1851), "My Old Kentucky Home" (1853), "Old Dog Tray" (1853), "Hard Times Come Again No More" (1854), "Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair" (1854), and "Beautiful Dreamer" (1862).  He is considered to be America’s first great songwriter.

Stephen Foster — July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864.

Lang Lang to Join Metallica on Grammy Stage

Theres something new to look forward to at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards later this month. Metallica, celebrating the 25th anniversary of being the first hard rock band to ever take the Grammy stage, will perform alongside internationally renowned pianist (and Ravinia favorite) Lang Lang. Will we see a heavy metal Lang Lang, a classical Metallica, or something inbetween? We're already sitting on the edge of our seats waiting! The Grammys will air on January 26 on CBS. Check your local listings for times.

Ziering-Conlon Lead Initiative Recieves $1 Million Gift

Sel Kardan, President and CEO of The Colburn School, announced today the establishment of The Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices at the Colburn School. Los Angeles philanthropist Marilyn Ziering has made the Initiative possible with a generous $1 million gift to Colburn. The Initiative builds upon the Recovered Voices project at LA Opera, established to support conductor James Conlon’s long-term commitment to bring attention to the works of important composers whose music was suppressed during the Nazi years in Europe.

Mr. Kardan said, “The Ziering-Conlon Initiative’s primary focus will be performance, advocacy and dissemination of music by suppressed composers. Research and academic activities will be explored through creative collaborations, conferences, concerts and publishing. In addition, we hope that Internet, public radio and television broadcasting will provide opportunities to reach international audiences.”

He continued, “The Ziering-Conlon Initiative will give Mr. Conlon, whose leading advocacy of this repertoire is acknowledged throughout the world, the unprecedented opportunity to share his insights on this important music, literature and the history of music in the first half of the twentieth century with Colburn students and the Colburn community at large."

For the full release click here.

Lincoln Trio Receives 2014 Grammy Nod

Congratulations to the Lincoln Trio on their 2014 Grammy nomination for Whitbourn's Annelies! They have received a nomination in the Best Choral Performance category for their collaboration with Arianna Zukerman and the Westmister Williamson Voices. This work had its Chicago premiere as part of our BGH Classics series back on February 24! The Lincoln Trio was formed in 2003 by Desirée Ruhstrat, David Cunliffe and Marta Aznavoorian, and is a nod to being based in the Land of Lincoln. We wish them the best of luck!

Paying Our Respects to Former CSO Trombonist

Former Chicago Symphony Orchestra trombonist Edward Kleinhammer passed away on Nov 30 at the age of 94. He was a well-respected member of the orchestra for 45 year until his retirement in 1985, spending many summers here at Ravinia. He is survived by his wife, Dessie.

“What a joy it is to work with Ed; he is the most conscientious musician I have ever met. He is a fanatic about practicing. He arrives hours before rehearsals and concerts to make sure his preparation is as good as it can be. Because his personal standards of playing and conduct are so high, Ed never tries to compete with anyone but himself. He is humble about his own talents and generous in praising others.... There was only one way he could be a musician, and that was by giving 110 percent of himself.” — Jay Friedman, principal trombone of the CSO in 1985

via Chicago Tribune

Pulitzer Prize Winner Earns Raves On Way To Midwest Premiere at Ravinia

In April violinist/singer Caroline Shaw became the youngest composer in history to win the Pulitzer Prize. She scored this honor with Partita for Eight Voices, a piece she wrote for the innovative ensemble, Roomful of Teeth, which explores a wide range of vocal techniques. Though the four movements of this acclaimed work have been heard separately in various performances, they came together for a first complete performance at New York’s Le Poisson Rouge last week, and audiences went wild. The New York Times called it “exhilarating, sensual and playful.” (Read the full review.) Shaw and Roomful of Teeth will perform the Midwest premiere of her Partita at Ravinia on Saturday, March 29. A complete package including parking, dinner and concert ticket is only $40 when you enter promo code DINING. For information, call 847-266-5100.

RSMI Alum Paul Appleby Stars in Met Opera World Premiere

Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute alumnus tenor Paul Appleby is starring in the Metropolitan Opera’s world premiere of Nico Muhly’s Two Boys as the 16-year-old protagonist, Brian. Listen to a Preview.

Appleby’s other engagements this season include Mozart’s The Magic Flute with Washington National Opera and Così fan tutte with the Canadian Opera Company and Oper Frankfurt, and Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings and Spring Symphony with Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic. 

Award-Winning Violinist Among Ravinia Debuts On $10 BGH Classics

Violinist Benjamin Beilman, who received both an Avery Fisher Career Grant and a London Music Masters Award in 2012, makes his Ravinia debut on the $10 BGH Classics series on Nov. 2 with a program that includes works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Schumann and Brahms. Beilman’s “sweet, warm, slightly throaty tone gave considerable pleasure,” said a recent Washington Post review. As the series title suggests, reserved-seat tickets are only $10 each, but a complete evening can be had for $40, which includes dinner in the Freehling Room by City Park Grill and free parking adjacent to the theater. Tickets and complete dining packages are also available for A Far Cry (Nov. 16); Broadway and television star Jonathan Groff (Glee, Spring Awakening) in his Ravinia debut (Dec. 7); “Sounds of the Season” with Chicago Children’s Choir (Dec. 14) and Boston Brass (Dec. 21); Musicians from Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute (RSMI) (March 22) reprising David Ludwig’s Aria Fantasy, which Ravinia commissioned this summer to celebrate the 25th anniversary of RSMI; the a cappella ensemble Roomful of Teeth performing the Midwest premiere of Caroline Shaw’s Partita for Eight Voices (March 29); and Ravinia's own Marquis Hill with his ensemble, celebrating the release of his new album (April 12).

RSMI Alumna Sings In Tanglewood Finale Before Returning For Ravinia Closer

Mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford, an alumna of Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, just earned great notices for helping to close the 2013 Tanglewood season with its traditional finale, Beethoven’s Ninth.

She returns to Ravinia Saturday, Sept. 7 to help close Ravinia's season with the Midwest premiere of the acclaimed John Adams Passion, The Gospel According to the Other Mary. Mumford will reprise the role she originated along with fellow original cast members mezzo Kelley O’Connor, tenor Russell Thomas and countertenors Daniel Bubeck, Brian Cummings and Nathan Medley. Grant Gershon conducts the Chicago Philharmonic and Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Morgan Park High School Wins Cash Prize for CSO Attendance

The Ravinia Student Advisory Board and the Ravinia Associates congratulate Morgan Park High School, the winner of Ravinia’s third annual high school attendance contest for Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts. More than 100 Chicago area high schools participated in the contest, which awards students points when they attend CSO concerts at Ravinia.

Morgan Park edged out last year’s winner, Central Burlington. Rounding out the top five schools this year, 2011 winner Highland Park High School took third, New Trier High School took fourth, and Libertyville High School took fifth.

Find full standings on our website. Morgan Park will be awarded a $5,000 grant generously donated by the Ravinia Associates, a board of young professionals who support Ravinia by raising funds and increasing awareness of the festival’s REACH*TEACH*PLAY education programs.

Find out what’s new with the Classical Youth Initiative on Facebook and Instagram.

A Knight Alone: Gandelsman Goes Solo, Then Returns With Knights

Violinist Johnny Gandelsman, co-concertmaster of the extraordinarily popular and future-looking chamber orchestra The Knights, will make his Ravinia solo debut on the $10 BGH Classics series on Sunday,Sept. 1. His program will include Stravinsky’s Elégie, Philip Glass’s Strung Out and two of Bach’s works (one sonata and one partita) for unaccompanied violin. He returns to play with The Knights on Tuesday,Sept. 3, on a concert that features tenor Nicholas Phan, an alumnus of Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute. That program includes Copland’s Quiet City and, to mark the centennial of Benjamin Britten, his Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings. Gandelsman was here earlier this summer with the ensemble Brooklyn Rider.

Lutosławski Gets His Due, Too; Golka and 5 Browns Honor His Hundreth

Much has been made in 2013 about the bicentennials of Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi and the centennial of Benjamin Britten, but another great composer also celebrates what would have been his hundredth birthday this year. Witold Lutosławaki was a major 20th-century composer and one of Poland’s finest musicians of the past several decades. His works, heavily influenced by Polish folk traditions, will be represented by pianist Adam Golka, who will play Lutosławski’s “Folk Melodies” on his Aug. 29 program, and by The 5 Browns, who will perform his Variations on a Theme by Paganini on their Sept. 5 Martin Theatre program.

Pianist Anthony DeMare Reimagines Sondheim

Ravinia’s large-scale presentations of Stephen Sondheim’s works have been critically acclaimed audience-pleasers. But there is more than one way to approach an artist of Sondheim’s magnitude. Pianist Anthony DeMare brings a fresh approach to his Aug. 25 concert, Liaisons, for which he commissioned several of today’s influential composers to reimagine some of Sondheim’s brightest songs as piano pieces. Works will include The Demon Barber by Kenji Bunch, Being Alive by Gabriel Kahane, Color and Light by Nico Muhly, I’m Excited. No You’re Not. by Jake Heggie, Send in the Clowns by Ethan Iverson and many more. Reserved seats are only $10.

RSMI Singers Get Nine Songs To Call Their Own In A Concert of Premiers

All summer Ravinia has been celebrating the 25th anniversary of its summer conservatory, Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute. Perhaps the biggest celebration yet comes tonight, Aug. 12, with a concert that boasts nine world-premiere songs, commissioned for the milestone year. Tickets are just $10, and all ticket-holders are invited to a post-concert party. The songs are Jake Heggie’s By the Spring, at Sunset, Aaron Jay Kernis’s setting of Walt Whitman’s Clear Midnight, Ramsey Lewis’s Quiet Moments, David Ludwig’s Still Life, Stephen Paulus’s Was It All a Dream?, Augusta Read Thomas’s Twilight Butterfly, and a three-song cycle by Roberto Sierra called Décimas.