Dean Richards and Bill Zwecker Talk Movie Music at July Concert

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Dean Richards and Bill Zwecker

Entertainment journalists Dean Richards of WGN TV and Radio and Bill Zwecker of Fox News and the Chicago Sun-Times have seen it all—and heard it all, too. They’ll share their insights and experiences at a special discussion before the July 14 performance by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra of Danny Elfman’s music from the films of Tim Burton. This unique discussion with two of the most famous faces in Chicago is free and open to ticketholders of the evening’s concert. Topics will include the

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Music means everything to Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga

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He’s been putting a masterful spin on the Great American Songbook since the 1950s, earning the unparalleled distinction of landing albums on the Billboard charts in every decade from then through the present, selling over 50 million titles, and scooping up 18 Grammy Awards, a pair of Emmy Awards, plus a plethora of other esteemed distinctions too numerous to mention. She’s been one of the most provocative and creative presences in pop music since

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Ravinia Mixtape: Cover Songs by 2015 Artists

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Ravinia Mixtape The Covers

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and in the music world, a hit is bound to be covered. When an artist creates their version of a well-known song, they get to recreate it while putting their own stamp on it. Our 2015 Artists Covers Mix contains a wealth of these worthwhile covers by artists performing in our 2015 season. To start, check out Aretha Franklin’s cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” and listen to how the Gipsy Kings add a flamenco flavor to The Eagles’ “Hotel California.” The playlist is organized so that similar genres of music are presented together. It starts off with pop and rock and then settles into calming classical and jazz towards the end. 

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Igudesman and Joo are in the vanguard of growing an audience through YouTube

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There are two current trends in classical music presentation that are driven by a desire to connect with younger audiences, a reflection of the fear among many that the graying of contemporary audiences bodes ill for the future of the genre. There is ever-increasing adoption of visual media like YouTube to extend lines of communication beyond the live concert experience or traditional audio-only, hard-copy studio recordings. Another is

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Bobby McFerrin hears the history behind the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess

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Some years ago I was browsing through bins of CDs at a music superstore and one album virtually jumped off the rack and yelled, “Buy me!” The album was entitled Hush, and pictured on the cover were two smiling gentlemen I admired very much: cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the inimitable, multiple Grammy Award–winning singer and conductor Bobby McFerrin.

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Our Staff Can’t Wait To See These 2015 Artists

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With over 120 different concerts to choose from this summer at Ravinia, you might be interested in some help finding the perfect fit. We asked our eclectic and knowledgeable staff which concerts they are most excited to see this season in order to give you the inside scoop and perhaps introduce you to some quality concerts you may have overlooked.

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Ramsey Lewis Performs as He’s Feted at Highland Park's Focus On The Arts

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Highland Park High School’s acclaimed biennial arts-immersion program, “Focus on the Arts,” kicks off its 25th anniversary at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, with a special event honoring lifelong Chicagoan Ramsey Lewis. The jazz legend himself Read More

John Legend Takes Home 2015 Golden Globe

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John Legend is certainly living up to his surname taking home American Music, BET, Grammy, MOBO and Soul Train awards throughout his music career. Now he's now added a 2015 Golden Globe for Best Original Song for his collaboration with hip hop artist Common for their song "Glory," which appeared in the movie Selma. What will he win next!?

Announcing Concerts with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga

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Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, following the success of their number-one, critically acclaimed album Cheek To Cheek, will perform two concerts together at Ravinia on June 26 and June 27. This will be Lady Gaga’s Ravinia debut and the 28th season Tony Bennett has appeared at the festival, where he first performed in 1984. Both artists will be accompanied by
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Ravinia: There and Back Again #2

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As winter approaches, we would like to shake up our version of a snow globe to reminisce about summer days.  On August 23, 1974, patrons enjoy the warm summer breeze as The Joffrey Ballet dances Remembrances to music by Richard Wagner and choreographed by Robert Joffrey.

RSMI Alum Marquis Hill Wins International Accolade

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Chicago native and 2010 Ravinia Steans Music Institute Jazz Alum, Marquis Hill, has taken top honors at the 2014 Thelonious Monk International Trumpet Competition. He adds this an already impressive streak over the last few years with his Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition win in 2013 and International Trumpet Guild Jazz Improvisation Competition in 2012. The win comes with a $25,000 music scholarship and guaranteed recording contract with Concord Music Group.

Marquis talked briefly about his time here as a fellow of the Ravinia Steans Music Institute Program for Jazz in the video celebrating 25 years of the Ravinia Steans Music Institute in 2013 below.

Ravinia: There and Back Again #1

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Although Ravinia Park originally served as an upscale destination for passengers of the new Chicago & Milwaukee Electric Railroad in 1904, within a few years it became apparent that the enterprise was not profitable, and the railroad company looked to unload the Highland Park property it owned. Fearing the site would devolve into a cheap amusement park, local residents purchased the land and in 1911 established The Ravinia Company, under whose supervision the park became primarily a summer venue for classical music. Performances of operatic music began to dominate the repertoire, and by the end of the decade Ravinia had established a reputation as summer opera capital of the world. From June 30 to September 3 of 1917, the year this photo was taken, Ravinia presented 54 performances featuring scenes and acts from no fewer than 20 different operas.

Three Improvement Projects Under Way

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This fall Ravinia is working on three projects recently approved by Highland Park City Council: rebuilding the north bus turnaround to make it safer and more efficient, reducing noise and exhaust; refacing the back of the Harza Building to match the south entrance; and widening the south parking lot gate to the same width as the street that feeds it, removing the bottleneck. For more information: click here

Associates Board's Music Matters Honors Kauffman, Supports Education

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The Ravinia Associates Board will host its most important event, the annual Music Matters fundraising dinner, dance and auction at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at Radisson Blu Aqua, 221 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago. Performing live will be one of Chicago’s most popular bands, the high-energy Maggie Speaks. Proceeds from this spirited black-tie event support the not-for-profit Ravinia Festival’s REACH*TEACH*PLAY education programs. Last year’s event grossed a record $494,214 for the programs, which reach 75,000 people in Cook and Lake Counties, largely in underserved Chicago Public Schools. Each year, a person or group who has made a tremendous impact on Ravinia’s education programs is honored at Music Matters. This year’s honoree will be the man who actually gave REACH*TEACH*PLAY its name, Welz Kauffman, who celebrates his 15th anniversary as President and CEO of Ravinia in 2015.