On July, 26, 2009 Ravinia Festival celebrates the 10th Anniversary of Lang Lang's Ravinia debut. The performance featuring Maestro Christoph Eschenbach and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra isn't just a celebration of Lang Lang's unveiling to the Ravinia Family, but also a salute to the performance that catapulted him into the international spotlight. The pictures From the Archives do not do the August 14, 1999 Gala evening justice--at which he filled in, last-minute, for the ailing Andre Watts--nor the uproarious applause he received after Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, but they do manage to capture the excitement.

Look for more pictures of Lang Lang's debut in our Backstage Gallery. Lang Lang will be returning to Ravinia Festival on July 26 with Maestro Eschenbach and the CSO, and on July 28 with Herbie Hancock and the CSO under the baton of John Axelrod. Also, while at the park, pick up a copy of the new Ravinia Magazine and read more about that fateful August 14, 1999 night in the article More Than a Lucky Break by Wynne Delacoma.

Matthew Dolkart
Development Writer