Ravinia Festival News

Veteran press agent Leslie Baden Papa will launch Vivacity Media Group, an entertainment public relations agency on January 6, 2014. Publicist Whitney Holden Gore will join the firm as Vice President.

Over the past decade, Albanian tenor SAIMIR PIRGU has become an indispensable part of musical life here and abroad. During this time, audiences have witnessed his development from a highly-gifted fledgling singer to a seasoned world-class performer.

With great regret, Pierre Boulez, the Helen Regenstein Conductor Emeritus of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, has informed the CSO that that he will not be able to come to Chicago to conduct in February 2014 due to health issues. With three young conductors hand-picked by Maestro Boulez to substitute for him, the CSO will proceed with the planned programs-during two subscription weeks, beginning on February 20 and ending on March 1, 2014-as a celebration of Boulez's innovative musicianship and mentorship.

Award-winning musical theater superstar, Patti LuPone, who has portrayed some of Broadway's most memorable roles, returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a special one-night-only performance of her latest concert, Far Away Places on Saturday, March 22 at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

CHICAGO – The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has launched CSO Sounds & Stories (http://www.cso.org/soundsandstories), an online multimedia magazine designed to enhance the concert-going experience and to bring the CSO closer to music lovers worldwide. Integrating audio and video recordings with original, high-quality content created by professional writers, the site previews coming programs, features articles and audio/video clips aboutMusic Director Riccardo Muti, CSO musicians and visiting artists and includes program notes about the season's concerts, festivals and themes.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the Mel Brooks Broadway hit YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, previewing January 16, opening Thursday, January 23, and running through March 16, 2014. The cast is led by Devin DeSantis as "Dr. Frederick Frankenstein" (Anyone Can Whistle with Patti LuPone at the Ravinia Festival, four years in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and Pirates of Penzance, Boys from Syracuse and Hot Mikado at Drury Lane Theatre); Jeff Award winner Jeff Dumas as "Igor" (First National Tour of Spamalot Directed by Mike Nichols, Bounce at The Kennedy Center, NBC TV's Chicago Fire, The Merry Widow at Lyric Opera Chicago, Pacific Overtures at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Winesburg, Ohio at About Face Theatre); and Johanna McKenzie Miller as "Elizabeth Benning" (Mary Poppins at Marriott Theatre, Fiddler on the Roof at Drury Lane Theatre, The Music Man at Marriott Theatre, Sunday in the Park with George at Ravinia Festival and The Three Musketeers at Chicago Shakespeare Theater). The production is Directed by Drury Lane Theatre Artistic Director William Osetek (Drury Lane Theatre's smash hit production of Spamalot and Jeff Award nominee for Best Director and Best Production for Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Choreographed by Jeff Award winner Tammy Mader (Sunset Boulevard, Gypsy, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Hairspray at Drury Lane Theatre).

New York, NY — Cellist Maya Beiser will participate in the Rubin Museum of Art's Brainwave: Mind Over Matter series with cognitive psychologist Jamshed Barucha on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 6pm at the Rubin Museum of Art (150 West 17th Street). Maya will perform composer Michael Harrison's Just Ancient Loops, a 25-minute piece with a film by Bill Morrison, and will converse with Barucha, the President of Cooper Union, about tonality and what effect music has on our psyche and wellbeing. The seventh annual Brainwave, a series of on-stage conversations, films and experiences, explores the role the brain plays in helping us overcome adversity, survive tests of endurance, and understand faith.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra celebrates the holiday season at Highmark Holiday Pops with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and an all-star cast of guest artists tonight, Dec. 12, 13, 14, 15, 20 and 21.

The League of Chicago Theatres proudly announces the election of the Executive Committee Members and the appointment of four new members to The Board of Directors. The Executive Committee includes Board Chair Kate Lipuma, Executive Director, Writers Theatre; Vice Chair Rachel Kraft, Executive Director, Lookingglass Theatre Company; Treasurer Heather Schmucker, Associate Producer, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre; and Secretary Dan McArdle, Managing Director, The Neo-Futurists. Elected by members of the League, newly-elected Board Members include Brittany Barnes, Managing Director, Pavement Group; Peter Handler, Program Director, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; Bill Melamed, Chief Marketing and Development Officer, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; and Regina Taylor, Artistic Collective, Goodman Theatre.

The CSO is pleased to offer these remarks as part of the announcement released today that Deborah F. Rutter, the President of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, has been appointed President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., effective September 1, 2014.

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts presents an intriguing solo recital by renowned Brooklyn-based pianist SIMONE DINNERSTEIN. Dinnerstein's first major performance following the release of her new CD features the Bach Inventions as well as the NY premiere of a work by Nico Muhly. Thursday, January 23, 2014, 8:00 p.m. Miller Theatre (2960 Broadway at 116th Street) Tickets: $35-45 • Students with valid ID: $21-27

Carnegie Hall today announced that pianist Natalia Katyukova has graciously agreed to step in for Malcolm Martineau, playing a full-length song recital with sopranos Joelle Harvey, Emalie Savoy, tenor Paul Appleby, and baritone John Brancy, as part of its Discovery Day: Benjamin Britten event on Saturday, December 14 at 1:00 p.m. in Weill Recital Hall. Mr. Martineau has been forced to cancel his appearance due to an ear infection which prevents him from traveling.

Laughing Dog Media has announced Broadway star and vocal powerhouse James Barbour'S Special Guest Artists at his Sixth Annual Holiday Concert. Stephen Wallem will join Mr. Barbour on stage tonight, December 7. Mary Testa will join Mr. Barbour on stage Thursday, December 12.

On Saturday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 19 at 3:00 p.m., in Zankel Hall, the critically acclaimed Takacs Quartet performs a complete Bartok string quartet cycle-a musical touchstone of the 20th century, composed over a span of three decades. On January 18, Takacs Quartet presents quartets numbers 1, 3, and 5, followed by numbers 2, 4, and 6 on January 19, showcasing the development of the prolific composer's compositional style throughout the years.

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra celebrates the holiday season at Highmark Holiday Pops with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and an all-star cast of guest artists on Dec. 12, 13, 14, 15, 20 and 21. Audiences also can enjoy Heinz Hall decorated beautifully for the holidays, complete with a 25-foot tree in the Grand Lobby!

American soprano Patricia Racette, known throughout the world for her portrayal of Cio-Cio-San (a.k.a. Madama Butterfly), will star in the Lyric Opera of Chicago production of Puccini's ever-popular masterpiece, Madama Butterfly, which opens at Lyric on Saturday, January 11. There will be six performances – Jan. 11, 14, 17, and 20 beginning at 7:30pm, and Jan. 23 and 26 beginning at 2pm.

Laughing Dog Media has announced Broadway star and vocal powerhouse JAMES BARBOUR'S Special Guest Artists at his Sixth Annual Holiday Concert. STEPHEN WALLEM will join Mr. Barbour on stage Saturday, December 7. MARY TESTA will join Mr. Barbour on stage Thursday, December 12.

The McAninch Arts Center (MAC), located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, is pleased to announce its 2014 Grand Opening Season's Performance Series. The series is part of the MAC's 2014 Grand Opening season, marking the opening of the venue after a 14-month, $35 million renovation. The MAC's 2014 Grand Opening Season's Performance Series officially opens on Feb. 8 with a performance by Grammy Award-winner 'Keb Mo'. Additional programming for the MAC, including the MAC's new Patio Stage summer season and the MAC's 2014-15 season, the first complete season in the newly renovated venue, will be announced in spring 2014.