The Beauty of Walt Disney's The Sleeping Beauty

in
Recently I acquired the Blu-ray edition of Walt Disney’s The Sleeping Beauty, my favorite Disney movie of all time. I love it not only because I am old enough to have seen it in the theater when it was first released in 1959, but also—actually mainly—because the film soundtrack is based almost exclusively on the music of Tchaikovsky’s ballet. Like everyone, I was enchanted by the singing of the title character, which, I later learned, was dubbed by opera star Mary Costa. So out of curiosity I dug through Ravinia’s archive and learned that the lovely Ms. Costa—who not only provided the voice, but also was the model for the figure of Princess Aurora—made her Chicago area debut here at Ravinia the following year.
Read More

Ravinia Seasonal Employee Corrects Conan

When you walk up to or call the box office, our amazing seasonal staff is always happy to be of assistance. Many of these young men and women return year after year, fostering lifelong friendships as part of the Ravinia family. Recently one of these familiar box office staffers, Joel Orhland, caught a mistake (or so he thought) on Conan’s late night show on TBS. He recorded a response pointing out the potential mistake which was then featured on the show! Joel has been part of our box office staff for seven summers now, and this video has been all the buzz around the festival! Congratulations Joel! I think Conan won this one, but you’ll get him next time!

 

Ravinia Associates Meet to Observe REACH*TEACH*PLAY Jazz Scholars

The Ravinia Associates board has set its winter meeting for the morning of Jan. 19 on the UIC campus so that they can watch a rehearsal of the Ravinia Jazz Scholars. Each year the Associates dedicate time and funding to Ravinia’s REACH*TEACH*PLAY education programs. The Jazz Scholars is a performance ensemble made up of the finest jazz musicians from Chicago’s high schools. They study in groups and one-on-one with the city’s top musicians. Learn more about the Ravinia Associates and its annual Music Matters dinner party and benefit to help support Ravinia’s mission to put music back into the schools. Save the date for Music Matters, Saturday, May 4, at the Radisson Blu in Chicago.

Chicago Tribune Selects Ravinia Jazz Mentors Programs as Season’s Must-See Attractions

Of the 25 must-see winter events selected by the Chicago Tribune are concerts that will be led by Jazz Mentors Pharez Whitted and Bobby Broom, with a third Jazz Mentor, Dennis Carroll, playing in Pharez’s band. The Jazz Mentors are the group of headlining Chicago jazz musicians who work with the high school students in Ravinia’s Jazz Scholars training program.

The larger-than-life trumpeter Whitted celebrates the release of his newest recording, For the People, which features a stellar lineup: guitarist Bobby Broom, saxophonist Eddie Bayard, pianist Ron Perrillo, bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer Greg Artry at 8 and 10 p.m. Jan. 17 through 19 and at 4, 8 and 10 p.m. Jan. 20. Then the inventive Chicago guitarist Broom, who tours the world with tenor saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins, returns to lead his own band at 8 and 10 p.m. Jan. 24 through 26 and 4, 8 and 10 p.m. Jan. 27. All performances are at the Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct.; $20; 312-360-0234 or jazzshowcase.com

WFMT Will Broadcast Ravinia Premiere of Sold-out Anne Frank Oratorio

WFMT, Chicago’s only classical radio station, will tape the performance of the sold-out Feb. 24 premiere of James Whitbourn’s Annelies for later broadcast. Scored for clarinet, violin, cello, piano and soprano soloist, the work features clarinetist Bharat Chandra—making his Ravinia debut—and festival veterans Lincoln Trio, soprano Arianna Zukerman—who was soloist for the world premiere of the chamber version—and Chicago Children’s Choir. Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman and composer Whitbourn will participate in a pre-concert discussion at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 24 in Bennett Gordon Hall.

Irish Ensemble Celtic Woman Makes Ravinia Debut This Summer

Mark your calendars for June 12 to experience the festival debut of enchanting Irish ensemble Celtic Woman. Recently named Billboard magazine’s number one world albums artists, Celtic Woman combines the sounds and sensibility of Irish traditional music with memorable original compositions and contemporary pop standards, including such enduring fan favorites as “You Raise Me Up” and “Orinoco Flow.” Their albums have sold more than seven million copies around the world and all have debuted at number one on Billboard’s world music chart. Tickets will be available in March.

Ravinia CYI Alumni Jonas Tarm Receives Outstanding Honors

in

Jonas Tarm, founding member of Highland Park high school's student advisory board (now Ravinia Classical Youth Initiative) continues his success post graduation. In only his freshman year at New England Conservatory of Boston, Jonas is a National YouthArts Foundation Finalist in music competition. Chosen from approximately 10,000 applications from students in nine disciplines in the visual, literacy and performing arts, the former student at Highland Park High School and Music Institute of Chicago will participate in a life-changing experience provided by the National YoungArts Foundation. Congratulations Jonas! We are enjoying watching your professional career take off!

Sitar Virtuoso, Ravi Shankar Dies at 92

Ravi Shankar has been introducing western audiences to traditional Indian ragas for eight decades. He has worked with such artists as George Harrison, John Contrane, and David Crosby; and is also the father of nine-time Grammy award winning jazz artist Norah Jones. Though a gap still persists between the sitar and western audiences, Shankar left a lasting impact on music wordwide.

Congratulations to 2012 YEA! Highland Park Grant Recipients

Jazz Pianist Dave Brubeck Passes

Dave Brubeck, just one day short of his 92nd birthday, passed of heart failure this Wednesday while on route to a routine treatment with his cardiologist. Brubeck leaves quite a legacy on the jazz world. The works he penned helped to bring Jazz from the clubs into an accepted art form in academia. He also found himself at the forefront of integration, playing black clubs throughought the deep south in the 50's, a major point of pride for him. He is survived by his wife; four sons, and a daughter; grandons and a great granddaughter.

via Chicago Tribune

Zen Of Bennett In Select Theaters; Documentary Hits Netflix Nov. 12

in

Perhaps no singer is more associated with Ravinia Festival than the seminal favorite Tony Bennett. The new documentary The Zen of Bennett, shot on the eve of his 85th birthday, became a Tribeca Film Festival sensation last spring and will be given a limited theatrical release this week, followed by exclusive streaming on Netflix beginning Nov. 12. Check out the trailer. A companion autobiography Life is a Gift: The Zen of Bennett also will be available in November.

Ravinia Launches Student Orchestra At Circle Rock Elementary School

in

Ravinia Festival has announced the creation of a new student orchestra at Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. The orchestra, for children 8 to 12 years old, is modeled on the “El Sistema” training system that forgoes theory lessons to have the students making music with their instruments on the very first day they receive them. 60 children who volunteered to be part of “The Circle Rockets,” will receive their instruments today, learn their first note and perform in their first concert. Under the banner “Sistema Ravinia”™ Ravinia’s student orchestras are part of the festival’s REACH*TEACH*PLAY® education programs.

Ingenuity Releases Arts Plan For Chicago Public Schools

The Chicago Public Schools Department of Arts Education, with the support of Ingenuity Inc. (of which Welz Kauffman is a board member) and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, has released its CPS Arts Abstract 2012-2015—a preview of the 2012 CPS Arts Education Plan that outlines the district’s five education priorities for the next four years with arts playing a role in a well-rounded education. It sets the standards for schools to systemically improve, expand and coordinate arts education for all CPS students.

Classical Youth Initiative 2012 Grant Winner

in
Ravinia Festival, along with the Ravinia Student Advisory Board and the Ravinia Associates, has announced that Central High School in Burlington, IL, has been declared the winner of the festival’s second annual high school attendance contest for Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts. The attendance contest spanned the duration of the CSO summer residency at Ravinia, and any high school student who attended a concert simply showed a valid student I.D. at the Ravinia Box Office for free lawn admission and to receive a point for the high school they attend. Over 100 high schools participated in the teen attendance contest. The first runner-up was Evanston Township, followed by Highland Park, New Trier and Adlai E. Stevenson high schools.
Read More

The "Emmy Nominated" Ravinia 2011 Commercials

in

When we set out to create the Ravinia Festival Escape to the Music commercials in 2011 we never thought they would end up nominated for Emmys. Much to our pleasurable surprise, last night the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has nominated Ravinia for 2, count that TWO, Emmys for "Outstanding Achievement for Commercials – Single Spot." We can barely contain our excitement! Here are both of the commercials that we have been nominated for:

Read More

Train Joins Forces With The Count and Elmo

in

No matter how big a music superstar gets, even they won't turn down a collaboration with the characters of Sesame Street! The Count and Elmo were joined by Pat Monahan, Jimmy Stafford, and Scott Underwood of Train for a stroll down Sesame Street. The group stopped by Hoopers Store for some peaches, but are not sure how many...

Read More

Back to School with Ravinia’s REACH*TEACH*PLAY Education Programs

in

School is just starting, and that means the festival’s free REACH*TEACH*PLAY education programs are in full gear! We have expanded our Music Discovery program to reach 150 classrooms this year and over 4,300 K-3 kids who will develop their musical skills with resident teaching artists and interactive activities. Talented high school students will be auditioning soon for our Jazz Mentor program in which students are coached by Chicago’s finest jazz musicians. The Ravinia Lawndale Family Music School begins its free music classes in general music, voice, violin, guitar and piano for children and adults alike who reside in this underserved community. Ravinia’s latest program, Sistema Ravinia, which provides intensive after-school orchestral training at the grade-school level, is in full swing at William G. Hibbard Elementary, and Ravinia’s second installment at Circle Rock Elementary has just begun. Many artists in the BGH $10 CLASSICS series will also perform in schools through Ravinia’s Guest Artists in the Classroom program. Remember, your support of Ravinia makes these programs happen!