Judy Collins: A Harpsichordist’s Dream

in

I’m looking forward to attending tonight’s performance by Don McLean and Judy Collins, partly for reasons that may be unique to myself. They are both iconic performers, of course. I always felt the overwhelming (and deserved) popularity of McLean’s “American Pie” led it to overshadow the rest of the songs on that album, which is terrific from start to finish. My fascination with Ms. Collins is based on my love for her landmark 1967 Wildflowers album, especially the orchestral arrangements, which were done by musicologist Joshua Rifkin. Rifkin had been a graduate student at Princeton University several years before I was, and among his varied credits is the album of Scott Joplin Rags that more or less put that composer on the music-industry map in the 1970s.

Read More

Composer Max Richter’s Space 
Zombies Score Praised at Cannes

in

Composer Max Richter’s “eerily somber” score for the space-zombie film The Last Days on Mars won praise recently at the Cannes International Film Festival. The film opens this fall. Richter has scored 37 films and contributed to such soundtracks as Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island. HisThe Four Seasons Recomposed offers a twist on the Vivaldi classic, and the CD topped the Billboard charts. The Four Seasons Recomposedreceives its Midwest premiere with violinist Daniel Hope and the Chicago Philharmonic on June 23.

Singer-Songwriter Kate Earl Joins Matchbox 20 & Goo Goo Dolls Shows

in

 

Alaskan-born singer-songwriter Kate Earl will join the concert tour of co-headliners Matchbox Twenty and Goo Goo Dolls, who have just added a third date to Ravinia on July 4 due to popular demand. The July 2 and 3 tickets sold out in minutes. Earl emerged with a flourish late last year onStronger, her debut for Downtown Records written and recorded with an expansive team including Brett Dennen and Blake Mills. The album’s sound—a “rootsy” brand of all-American pop-rock led by the emerging single “One Woman Army”—recalls classic works by legendary artists like Stevie Nicks and Joni Mitchell.

Ravinia 2013 Artists Dominate Billboard’s Classical Chart

in

Upcoming Ravinia artists shook upBillboard’s Classical charts this week with the new CD Violin Lullabies by Rachel Barton Pine and Matthew Hole on the local Cedille label debuting in the number-one spot. The Brooklyn Rider CD A Walking Fire also entered the charts this week at number four. Pine performs the complete Paganini Caprices on Ravinia’s $10 BGH Classics series on Aug. 17 and repeats the feat on Aug. 18. Brooklyn Rider, featuring members of the acclaimed ensemble The Knights, makes its Ravinia debut on July 16. Also on the charts, Max Richter’s Four Seasons Recomposedfeaturing violinist Daniel Hope holds strong at number 14 after 27 weeks on the charts. Hope makes his Ravinia debut recreating this hit album with the Chicago Philharmonic on June 23.

The Circle Rockets Brass Take Off!

in

 

The Circle Rockets Brass continue to exceed our expectations, both in terms of their skills and their enthusiasm! We are very excited to see some of our older students begin taking on leadership roles as peer-teachers and mentors for our younger students. Recently the students have been learning about playing in harmony (both in the musical and social senses!). Their rapidly growing skill levels are combining with a greater sense of musical identity to foster the joy of collaboration that was so obvious last week when one of our youngest trumpet students exclaimed, “We sound awesome!”

Theresa C.

Photo above: Tristan Dismukes, a fourth grader, teaches an exercise from our Essential Elements book using practice techniques discussed in class. 

 

Matchbox Twenty and Goo Goo Dolls In For Third Show on July 4

in

Due to popular demand Ravinia has added a third show for the double bill of chart-toppers Matchbox Twenty and Goo Goo Dolls on Thursday, July 4. Their previously announced July 2 and 3 concerts sold out in less than a day when all of Ravinia’s concerts went on sale last month. Tickets to the July 4 performance go on sale exclusively at Ravinia.org at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14.

Matchbox Twenty made a splash with their debut diamond-certified album Yourself or Someone Like You. Their biggest hits include “3AM,” “Push” and “If You’re Gone,” and their 2012 release North debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Goo Goo Dolls’ breakout single “Iris” spent a year on the Billboard charts, including 18 weeks at number one. Over its career the band has earned four Grammy nominations, scored 13 consecutive top-10 multiformat hit songs, and sold over 10 million albums. Both bands make their Ravinia debuts on July 2.

Tickets to most Ravinia shows are on sale now exclusively at Ravinia.org. The festival welcomes fans to follow, connect and interact online at backstage.ravinia.org, facebook.com/RaviniaFestival and twitter.com/raviniafestival. Ravinia is a not-for-profit organization. 

Patrick Davis and Tori Kelly Sign On for June 16 Jewel Show

Top-10 singer-songwriter Patrick Davis and YouTube titan Tori Kelly will make their Ravinia debuts opening for Jewel’s June 16 Ravinia debut. In addition to his own recordings, Davis has penned songs for Jewel, Lady Antebellum and Pat Green. He will perform a solo acoustic set. With more than 30 million YouTube views, Kelly has been called music’s new “it girl.” Her cover of Justin Timberlake’s “Suit and Tie” is an internet sensation. Ravinia is one stop on a 2013 world tour for the Southern California singer-songwriter.


Executive Chef Matthew Ford Takes Over Kitchens

in

Ravinia welcomes a new executive chef with the 2013 season, Matthew Ford, who last summer served as executive sous chef at Ravinia. Ford’s ever-evolving menus will feature the flavors of Chicago and the Midwest, relying on locally grown ingredients—including those fresh from his gardens on the Ravinia grounds. Prior to joining Levy Restaurants almost eight years ago, Ford honed his passion for French-Vietnamese cuisine at Le Lan in Chicago and also worked at Mackinac Brewing Company in Traverse City, MI, where he discovered his love of micro-brewed beers. He joined the Levy team at Wrigley Field as a sous chef shortly after graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago in 2005. Proving himself to be an invaluable team member, he continued to rise through the kitchen ranks as senior sous chef overseeing the Stadium Club and Premium Suites, and in 2011 he was promoted to executive sous chef, helping to oversee all culinary operations for the Field Museum. Other major events Ford has contributed to over the course of his tenure at Levy include the Breeder’s Cup, Country Music Awards and most recently, the Ryder Cup.

Ravinia Remembers CSO Trumpet Legend Adolph 'Bud’ Herseth

in

Ravinia remembers and salutes the legendary trumpet player Adolph “Bud” Herseth, who died April 13 at 91 years old. In the Chicago Tribune obituary, John von Rhein called Herseth “the most respected and influential orchestral trumpeter of the last half-century, and very probably the greatest.” Hired by the CSO’s then-Music Director Artur Rodzinski in 1947, Herseth would serve as the orchestra’s principal trumpet for 53 years, retiring from that post on the Ravinia stage in 2001, but continuing in an emeritus role until his retirement in 2004. As demonstrated in this YouTube video, Herseth was seen by many as synonymous with the CSO’s legendary brass sound.

"For a man who made such a magnificent sound, Bud was reluctant to blow his own horn," said Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman. "But when I organized the New York Philharmonic tribute marking Bud's 50th anniversary in music, I witnessed firsthand the love and respect for him shared by audiences and other music-makers like fellow trumpet legend Wynton Marsalis. Bud never had to tell them who he was or what he brought. They knew."

Photo courtesy of csoarchives.wordpress.com

Swing Dancers Join the Fun at Benny Goodman Tribute

in

Award-winning swing dancers from Big City Swing in Chicago will showcase the high-flying moves of such dances as the jitterbug and lindy hop when Ravinia presents a big-band tribute to Benny Goodman on June 14. The concert featues singers Sylvia McNair and Cyrille Aimée and clarinetists Larry Combs, Eric Schneider and Anat Cohen with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra led by Jeff Lindberg. Swing dancers will be stationed on the Pavilion floor near the stage. Prior to the concert they will give brief demonstration on a 40x60 foot dance floor installed on the lawn, and they will judge the Women’s Board’s annual dance contest, which this year adds categories for Best Lindy, Best Jitterbug and Best Costume. The event celebrates the 75th anniversary of the 1938 Ravinia debut of the “king of swing,” who sent cultural shockwaves across the country because of his innovative rhythms and racially integrated band. His booking led to today’s mix of classical and non-classical music at Ravinia.

New Sabrosa Brings Latin Flavor to Ravinia Market

in

Sabrosa, a new Latin tortaria, will open this summer in the Ravinia Market. Picnickers can take away signature tortas—built on “bolillo” rolls and pressed to perfection—fresh empanadas, “loaded” guacamole served with tortilla chips, or elote a la plancha, and even a house-made sangria on tap.

Summer Jobs Are Opening for Ushers, Wait Staff and More

in

Ravinia will host a job fair from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, in Bennett Gordon Hall for people seeking summer employment as ushers, security, retail sales associates and chair rental staff. Applications can be made in person at this event. Ravinia’s food/catering provider, Levy Restaurants, is hosting “open houses” for applicants from 2 to 5 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday through May 1. All those applicants will be interviewed at the Levy job fairs at Ravinia from 4 to 7 p.m. on May 1, May 7 or May 9. Other seasonal job opportunities are posted at Ravinia.org.

Associates Host Music Matters Party for REACH*TEACH*PLAY Education Programs

in

Ravinia Associates, the festival’s forward-looking board of young business leaders, will host its annual Music Matters party to benefit Ravinia’s REACH*TEACH*PLAY education programs at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago. The black-tie event features a live auction (with electronic bidding paddles) for sporting events, vacation packages and premium Ravinia tickets. The event will also honor Ravinia Life Trustees Harrison and Lois Steans for 40 years of dedicated service. Ravinia reaches about 75,000 people each year through its education programs, which include student orchestras built on the “El Sistema” model. Those unable to attend can still make a donation to our REACH*TEACH*PLAY programs, and have it matched as part of the Music Matters Challenge, sponsored by Evergreen Real Estate Services.

Natalie Cole Joins Ravinia Season On Aug. 28 Bill with Ramsey Lewis

One of the all-time great R&B singers, Natalie Cole, has just joined the 2013 concert series, set to share a bill with Ramsey Lewis on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Donors can purchase tickets now through April 22. Tickets to the general public go on sale April 25. Cole has a new album expected on May 21. The concert begins at 7 p.m. with a performance by alumni from the jazz program at Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute. Dee Dee Bridgewater, who was originally scheduled to share the bill with Lewis, withdrew due to a scheduling conflict. Donors who have already purchased tickets to the Aug. 28 concert need do nothing.

Three New Concerts Added: OneRepublic, Cheap Trick and Dark Side of the Moon

in

The Internet’s biggest rock group, OneRepublic, makes its debut along with soul artist Mayer Hawthorne and Churchill on a July 23 triple bill. Best known for the smash hit “Apologize,” which remained on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 10 weeks, OneRepublic recently released its third studio album, Native, in March with the first single, “Feel Again.” Rockford’s own Cheap Trick returns to Ravinia on Aug. 31 to re-create two classic live albums, Cheap Trick at Budokan and Sgt. Pepper Live, the latter with the Ravinia Festival Orchestra. In its Ravinia debut Classic Albums Live appears on Sept. 8 performing the iconic Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon, which was recently added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. Tickets to these events go on sale to the public beginning at 5 a.m. on April 25, exclusively at www.ravinia.org.

Welz Kauffman Previews 2013 Season

in

Ravinia’s 2013 season features more than 120 events from June 6 through September 15. Hear about the season first-hand from the man who programmed it: Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman will preview the season in a free public event at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 11. Coffee and dessert will be served, and guests will have a chance to win free prizes including concert tickets, dinners provided by Levy Restaurants and items from Ravinia Gifts. Seating is limited; reservations are required by April 9 at 847-266-5044 or by filling out the RSVP form on our website. The event will be held indoors at PNC Private Dining, located on the second floor of Ravinia’s dining pavilion. Free parking is available in Ravinia’s North Parking Lot at 418 Sheridan Road in Highland Park

Cognitive Benefits of Vivaldi's Four Seasons

in

Vivaldi's Four Seasons is among the most widely known work of classical music out there. It has been used in numerous television spots, films, and as background music at a local mall. Researchers from the University of Northumbria have decided to put Vivaldi's masterpiece to the test. They selected a group of 14 college-age adults, making them perform a challenging concentration test in silence, while listening to "Spring" or to "Autumn". The task; hitting the spacebar on a computer keyboard whenever a green square flashed on the screen. Other colored shapes occansionally popped up as well. How did Four Seasons hold up? As a baseline, the average response time was 408.1 milliseconds. The Vivaldi "Spring" concerto brought this average down to 393.8 milliseconds while the "Autumn" concerto rose the average to 413.3 milliseconds. Participants reported feeling more alert during the "Spring" concerto suggesting that the music may have impact their cognitive processes. What do you think?

via WQRX

In 2012, famous movie composer Max Richter recomposed Vivaldi's Four Seasons, revitalizing the piece and sending it straight to the top of the classical charts wordwide. On Sunday June 23, 2013 come see the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra led by Tito Muñoz perform the full recomposition in the Pavilion. Tickets available April 25.