Lincoln Trio Violinist Named Outstanding Studio Teacher

in

Desirée Ruhstrat, violinist of the Lincoln Trio, a favorite of Ravinia audiences, has just been named Outstanding Studio Teacher of 2014 by the American String Teachers Association Illinois. This award is presented to one individual who has demonstrated excellence in teaching one-on-one. The Lincoln Trio was nominated for a Grammy in 2013 for its recording of Annelies, the cantata based on the diary of Anne Frank that they premiered at Ravinia. Look for them on the schedule when Ravinia's 2014 season is announced next month.

Are You A Virtuoso Of Classical Music Knowledge?

in ,

Graduate graphics design student, Caleb Heisey, at Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia developed a truly unique board game, Virtuoso. Virtuoso is a trivial pursuit-style board game where players answer classical music inspired trivia questions to move around an orchestra pit shaped board. You better bring your "A-Game" because this game is not for the faint of musicality. Heisey developed an "audition" round in which the player has to answer a series of rapid-fire questions to move up "chairs" in the orchestra and the die has time signatures and beats per minute instead of standard dots. The game is beautifully designed and will be a unique addition to your board game collection.

For more information keep an eye on the the official website for the game at http://audition.virtuosogame.com/.

Read More

Throwback Thursday: Seiji Ozawa & Igor Stravinsky

in ,

In 1965 the legendary Igor Stravinsky sat down with then-Ravinia Music Director Seiji Ozawa to discuss his upcoming program. On the evening of July 8, Stravinsky, along with protégé Robert Craft, led the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on a program including Handel’s Concerto Grosso in B-flat Major* (arranged by Schoenberg) and two of his own works: the Symphony in Three Movements and The Fairy’s Kiss (Le baiser de la fée). What a treat for the audience that evening!

*In the repetoire archive, Webern’s Six Pieces for Orchestra was supposedly performed in place of the Handel piece, but it has not been independently confirmed yet.

Century and A Half Since Losing America's First Great Songwriter

in

Yesterday marked the 150th anniversary of the death of American composer, Stephen Foster.  Known for such traditional American fare as  "Oh! Susanna" (1846),  "Camptown Races" (1850), "Nelly Bly" (1850), "Old Folks at Home" (also known as "Swanee River," 1851), "My Old Kentucky Home" (1853), "Old Dog Tray" (1853), "Hard Times Come Again No More" (1854), "Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair" (1854), and "Beautiful Dreamer" (1862).  He is considered to be America’s first great songwriter.

Stephen Foster — July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864.

Lang Lang to Join Metallica on Grammy Stage

in ,

Theres something new to look forward to at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards later this month. Metallica, celebrating the 25th anniversary of being the first hard rock band to ever take the Grammy stage, will perform alongside internationally renowned pianist (and Ravinia favorite) Lang Lang. Will we see a heavy metal Lang Lang, a classical Metallica, or something inbetween? We're already sitting on the edge of our seats waiting! The Grammys will air on January 26 on CBS. Check your local listings for times.

David Byrne Takes On Peter Gabriel's "I Don't Remember"

in

In 2010, Peter Gabriel released the first of a two part album collection, Scratch my Back. In this first album, Peter Gabriel lays an open invitation to his contemporaries David Bowie, Paul Simon, David Bryne and the Talking Heads, and Neil Young; and some of his successors Bon Iver, Arcade Fire, and Regina Spektor. Just over three years later the full-length second part to the collection, And I'll Scratch Yours, is released featuring many of the artists Gabriel covered in Scratch my Back. Recent 2013 artist David Bryne leads off the album with his unique take on Peter Gabriel's "I Dont Remember." NPR Music has a exclusive first listen of both albums available for a limited time here. What do you think of this experiment?