Week of Jan 23 in Classical Music History

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Happy Lunar "Chinese" New Year! This weeks playlist is the first full week of the (lunar) year, so enjoy Ravinia Festival: This Week in Classical Music, and listen to all your favorite works on the anniversaries of their initial premiers. Just click the Spotify logo, or the link above, and add our playlist to your library. We update our playlist every week so there will never be a need to resubscribe! Below is a day-by-day listing of the track selections for this weeks edition of the playlist. We hope you enjoy!
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You Will Be Missed Etta James

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It has been six years since Etta James took the stage at Ravinia Festival, opening for Tom Jones. Her health has been declining over the past couple months, and we regret to hear that Etta James has lost the fight with her health, and passed this morning. She was most famous for her single "At Last" and was considered by many to be one of the most overlooked jazz and blues musicians in music history. Her passing comes just three days after the death of the man who first discovered her talent, Johnny Otis. These talents are irreplaceable, and will never be forgotten.

Ravinia’s Angus Watson Wins a Lifetime Achievement Award

Yesterday at the INTIX (International Ticketing Association) 33rd annual conference, Ravinia’s Director of Ticket Operations Angus Watson won the prestigious Patricia G. Spira Lifetime Achievement Award.

This award is presented to members who have been actively engaged in the direct management of a ticket operation for a minimum of twenty years, have made a major contribution to the ticketing industry by helping to set standards of excellence in all aspects of ticket management, and have been actively involved in the continuing development and organization of INTIX.

Watson exclaims, “This is Ravinia’s win!”

Way to go, Angus!



Week of Jan 16 in Classical Music History

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Last week was full of surprises! First major snowfall happened in the Chicagoland area, and we missed a week of this playlist! Unfortunately the flu bug seems to be going around the office, but we're back! So, relax and tune into our spotify playlist Ravinia Festival: This Week in Classical Music, and listen to all your favorite works on the anniversaries of their initial premiers. Just click the Spotify logo, or the link above, and add our playlist to your library. We update our playlist every week so there will never be a need to resubscribe! Below is a day-by-day listing of the track selections for this weeks edition of the playlist. We hope you enjoy!
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Week of Jan 2 in Classical Music History

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It's the first full week of 2012, and that means only a couple more months until our 2012 season schedule is released! Until then, relax and tune into our spotify playlist Ravinia Festival: This Week in Classical Music, and listen to all your favorite works on the anniversaries of their initial premiers. Just click the Spotify logo, or the link above, and add our playlist to your library. We update our playlist every week so there will never be a need to resubscribe! Below is a day-by-day listing of the track selections for this weeks edition of the playlist. We hope you enjoy!
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Queen of Morna, Cesária Évora, dies at 70

As some of you may have heard, Cape Verde singer Cesária Évora passed on December 17 2011, at the age of 70. She has performed at Ravinia Festival during the 2001 and 2007, but after a stroke in 2008, heart attack in 2010, and another stroke in 2011, she announced her retirement. She was famous for
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Week of Dec 19 in Classical Music History

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This week is a very special week for Ravinia Festival: This Week in Classical Music! At weeks end it is none other than Christmas Day! Beethoven had a particularly remarkable December 22nd 1808, and we spare no expence making sure every work he premiered that day is available for your listening pleasure. Just click the Spotify logo or the link above and add our playlist to your music library. We update our playlist every week so there will never be a need to resubscribe! Below is a day-by-day listing of the track selections for this weeks edition of the playlist. We hope you enjoy!
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Ravinia Staff Picks: Holiday Playlist

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During the summer, over 600,000 people come through our gates carrying blankets, chairs, picnics baskets, and young ones. Relax on the lawn, dine at the Mirabelle or Parkview, or grab a bite at the Ravinia Market, the Ravinia experience is uniquely your own. In order to make this possible, our full-time staff of around 50 work day in and day out to make sure to bring you the best entertainment that our three month season can provide. Every member of our staff lives and breathes music, so we have compiled a sample of their favorite holiday songs, just for you! So without further ado we bring you our 2011 Ravinia: Staff Picks Holiday Playlist on Spotify! You can subscribe by clicking here or clicking the Spotify logo above. Look below for a track listing, including the name and title of the employee whose recommendation it was. Hope you enjoy!
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Week of Dec 12 in Classical Music History

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Another week and another update to Ravinia Festival: This Week in Classical Music, our celebration of milestone premiers of classical works. Click the Spotify logo or the link above to add our playlist to your library. This playlist will be updated every week (pending no computer issues!) with new works so there's no need to resubscribe! Below is a day-by-day listing of the track selections for this weeks edition of the playlist. We hope you enjoy!

[UPDATE] This week is especially fun! On Dec 18, 1892, Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite premiered. Normally only select pieces from larger works selected, but we will include the entire The Nutcracker Suite for Christmas!

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Our Place of New Trier Township Visits Ravinia

This past Tuesday and Wednesday, Our Place of New Trier Township, visited us at Ravinia Festival to help pack holiday gift bags. Our Place is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support teens and young adults with developmental disabilities so they can live meaningful, productive lives in their community. The last time they visited the festival was May 14 when they helped us plant flowers in a garden off the pavilion. They did such an amazing job we had to have them back. They are a truly remarkable group of young individuals and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship. Over two days this week they packed a mind-blowing 1,800 holiday bags! Thank you so much from all of us at Ravinia. Check out the full gallery at Picasa.

Week of Dec 5 In Classical Music History

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Another week and another update to Ravinia Festival: This Week in Classical Music, our celebration of milestone premiers of classical works. Click the Spotify logo or the link above to add our playlist to your library. This playlist will be updated every week (pending no computer issues!) with new works so there's no need to resubscribe! Below is a day-by-day listing of the track selections for this weeks edition of the playlist. We hope you enjoy
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Ravinia Festival Artists Invade @theGrammys

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The 54th annual Grammy nominations were announced this morning, and Ravinia Festival artists are distributed throughout. We are extraordinarily excited to have our beloved performers receiving the recognition they so aptly deserve.

We have a Ravinia showdown on our hands for the “Best Pop Duo of the Year” award with Tony Bennett and the late Amy Winehouse for “Body and Soul” off Tony Bennett’s album Duets II in contention against Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera’s “Moves like Jagger”. Tony Bennett appears on the nomination list in two more categories, “Best Pop Vocal Album of the Year” for Duets II and “Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)” for his duet with Queen Latifah “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)” on Duets II. What a year for Tony Bennett! Tony’s nomination for “Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)” will be challenged by The Tierney Sutton Band and Sting with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. It’s going to be a nail biter.

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Week of Nov 28 In Classical Music History

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Another week and another update to Ravinia Festival: This Week in Classical Music, our celebration of milestone premiers of classical works. Click the Spotify logo or the link above to add our playlist to your library.This playlist will be updated on Mondays (pending no computer issues!) with new work every week so there's no need to resubscribe! Below is a day-by-day listing of the track selections for this weeks edition of the playlist. We hope you enjoy!
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Week of Nov 21 in Classical Music History

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It is no secret that we love classical music. We are especially excited to see Spotify expanding their classical library everyday, because that allows us to bring playlists to you like 2011 Ravinia: Halloween. We are now bringing you Ravinia Festival: This Week in Classical Music, our celebration of milestone premiers of classical works, click the Spotify logo or the link above to add our playlist to your library. This playlist will be updated on Mondays (pending no computer issues!) with new work every week so there's no need to resubscribe! Below is a day-by-day listing of the track selections for this weeks edition of the playlist. We hope you enjoy!
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Farewell, Regis Philbin

Today is Regis Philbin's final day as a host of "Live! With Regis and Kelly." On a cool crisp October afternoon in 2003, Regis graced Ravinia Festival with his presence, bringing his New York based talk show to the Pavilion stage. His smile and charisma warmed our hearts and lit up an otherwise quiet off-season day, leaving us with a lifetime of memories. From all of us here at Ravinia Festival, we wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors, and you will always have a home at Ravinia.
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Ravinia Gifts visits the Magnificient Mile

Give the gift of summer this holiday season. Ravinia makes it easier than ever as it opens its first Michigan Avenue kiosk, just outside of Nordstrom’s at Northbridge Mall, open from Friday, November 18 through Friday, December 16. Summer-themed gift items, including the popular stiletto shoe wine-holder (as featured in Chicago magazine) and souvenirs will be on sale along with gift certificates and the Classical Grass 10-admission lawn pass. Don't miss out on your chance to get your hands on one of a kind merchandise and deals only available at the downtown kiosk. Follow the new @RaviniaGifts for updates, prizes, and other exclusive deals.
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This Week in Classical Music on Spotify

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It is no secret that we love classical music. We are especially excited to see Spotify expanding their classical library everyday, because that allows us to bring playlists to you like 2011 Ravinia: Halloween. We are now bringing you Ravinia Festival: This Week in Classical Music, our celebration of milestone premiers of classical works. This playlist will be updated on Mondays with new work every week so there's no need to resubscribe! Below is a day-by-day listing of the track selections for the playlist. We hope you enjoy!
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Ravinia Receives Grant from the Academy of Country Music Towards School Programs

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ACM Lifting Lives is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. Each year, ACM Lifting Lives provides grants to music therapy and music education programs. 

This year Ravinia is honored to be a recipient of this generosity, receiving a grant towards the festival’s REACH*TEACH*PLAY education programs. This generous grant will be put towards Ravinia’s Music Discovery program, which focuses on children from kindergarten to third grade, at the Edward Beasley Elementary School in Chicago.

Thank you ACM Lifting Lives for this gift which will help continue Ravinia’s mission of bringing music education back into the schools!