For the past 29 years, Erich Kunzel has conducted the Labor Day Spectacular at Ravinia each year featuring Tchaikovsky’s "1812” Overture. Earlier this year, Maestro Kunzel was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and forced to cancel his scheduled performances this season, which included Ravinia’s Labor Day weekend tradition. We are sad to say that he passed away this week at the age of 74.

Having achieved world-wide acclaim, Maestro Kunzel had entertained classical audiences all over the world. The Chicago Tribune dubbed him as “The Prince of Pops” because he recorded extensively with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra throughout his career, and toured with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Maestro Kunzel made his first appearance at Ravinia in the summer of 1978. Since then he appeared at Ravinia more than any other artist in our history.

During Maestro Kunzel's time at Ravinia he led the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Ravinia Festival Orchestra with a wide range of style, including famous film scores, Broadway tunes and American standards. Who can forget those nights of movie music with Maestro Kunzel dancing along with the characters from Star Wars on stage? You can see some of our favorite Maestro Kunzel moments in our photo gallery.

Ravinia friends and family will miss his lively performances, vibrant spirit and genuine warm heart. We will be thinking of him this Labor Day and remembering his many years at Ravinia Festival.

Ravinia General Manager Pat Sanders said, "Erich Kunzel and I started our 'Ravinia stage careers' in 1978 and together we produced 127 shows. He was a gentleman, a scholar and a musical visionary who holds the record for having four concerts on Ravinia’s Top 20 Best Attended Concerts list. He brought joy to tens of thousands of Festival patrons and I am honored to have been his friend. Farewell, my Prince of Pop!"

Heather Haigh
Marketing Assistant