Archives 2007http://backstage.ravinia.org/archives-2007/en-US2012-02-09T05:00:56ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Pavarotti Rememberedhttp://backstage.ravinia.org/archives-2007/2007/9/6/pavarotti-remembered.htmlRavinia Backstage2007-09-06T17:21:00ZA Ravinia patron sent the following e-mail today:

Does anyone remember when Luciano performed at Ravina? we were talking
about him today at work and I was telling someone I remembered taking my Mom
on a beautiful night to Ravina to see him, and they told me they were there
as well, it was he and his wife's first date. Such a wonderful evening
all of us had, but we can't remember when it was! I just know it was a
long time ago : )

Pavarotti’s Ravinia credits are as follows:

Edward Gordon (Ravinia's executive director) and Ardis Krainik (Lyric Opera's general director) welcoming him here at O'Hare in 1983

His benefit performance in 1983 with conductor Bruno Bartoletti and the Lyric Opera Orchestra

Sept. 3, 1983-- post-season benefit concert

June 14, 1988-- pre-season benefit recital

Ravinia Gala in 1991 with Kathleen Battle and the CSO led by Ravinia Music Director James Levine

June 21, 1991-- Gala Benefit concert performance of Donizetti's L'Elisir d'amore

He was also scheduled to do a Gala Benefit concert performance of Puccini’s Tosca in 1995, but cancelled at the last minute.

John Schauer
Associate Director of Communications, Publications

]]>Ravinia Experience 2007 Contesthttp://backstage.ravinia.org/archives-2007/2007/8/22/ravinia-experience-2007-contest.htmlRavinia Backstage2007-08-22T16:46:00ZGot 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 17http://backstage.ravinia.org/archives-2007/2007/8/20/gipsy-kings-friday-august-17.htmlRavinia Backstage2007-08-20T21:17:00ZFriday 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 Eveninghttp://backstage.ravinia.org/archives-2007/2007/8/16/gala-benefit-evening.htmlRavinia Backstage2007-08-16T14:56:00Z
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!http://backstage.ravinia.org/archives-2007/2007/8/14/crystal-globe-award-goes-to-conlon.htmlRavinia Backstage2007-08-14T18:06:00Z
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 Raviniahttp://backstage.ravinia.org/archives-2007/2007/8/2/sculpture-highlights-from-ravinia.htmlRavinia Backstage2007-08-02T16:32:00Z
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 Raviniahttp://backstage.ravinia.org/archives-2007/2007/8/2/romance-at-ravinia.htmlRavinia Backstage2007-08-02T16:28:00Z
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"http://backstage.ravinia.org/archives-2007/2007/8/1/albin-polaseks-elizabeth.htmlRavinia Backstage2007-08-01T19:16:00Z
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

]]>Patricia Locke Jewelryhttp://backstage.ravinia.org/archives-2007/2007/7/26/patricia-locke-jewelry.htmlRavinia Backstage2007-07-26T18:10:00ZThis season the Ravinia Festival has had the joy of working with Chicago native Patricia Locke, a self-taught jewelry designer who has been hand-crafting fine jewelry since the 1970s. This year she has created a line of jewelry specifically for Ravinia that features architectural elements of the festival. The inspiration for this jewelry comes from the stained glass of the Martin Theatre, which is the oldest building at Ravinia, dating back to 1904. The jewelry crafted for Ravinia ranges from necklaces to earrings to brooches. Last week Locke visited Ravinia for a signing of her stunning jewelry, which can be purchased at the Ravinia gift shop. Seeing the artist next to her work, one could understand where the creativity for each piece stems. Locke is an energetic and inspirational artist whose impeccable crafts are now a staple of this season at Ravinia.

Juliane Chalabi
Communications Intern

]]>Steve Miller Band - July 13thhttp://backstage.ravinia.org/archives-2007/2007/7/14/steve-miller-band-july-13th.htmlRavinia Backstage2007-07-14T15:58:00Z



Photos by Russell Jenkins
Manager of Graphic Arts and Photography

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