Ravinia Festival News

CDI/Concert Dance Inc. (CDI) returns as part of the Ruth Page Festival of Dance and marks the opening event of the 2014 Ravinia Season Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6 st 7:30 p.m. in Ravinia's Bennett Gordon Hall Ravinia is located at 418 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park and gates to the event open at 6:30 p.m. Regularly commissioned by Ravinia to present new works, the CDI performance includes the world premiere of "Four Last Songs" choreographed by Artistic Director Venetia Stifler and uses dancers and live vocals, piano and violin accompaniment in a new compositional reduction inspired by songs written shortly before Richard Strauss' death, Reserved seating tickets are available for $10 and may be purchased at www.ravinia.org or via phone by calling 847.266.5100. No lawn seating will be available. For more information on CDI and the Ruth Page Festival of Dance, please visit www.ruthpage.org

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association announces the 2014/15 season programming for its acclaimed MusicNOW contemporary music series—dedicated to showcasing contemporary music through an innovative concert experience. Uniquely curated by CSO Mead Composers-In-Residence Mason Bates and Anna Clyne, the annual, four-concert series in 2014/15 presents a range of work from major musical figures such as Pierre Boulez and established contemporary talents such as John Luther Adams and Michael Gordon. Programs are performed by members of the CSO and guest artists led by MusicNOW principal conductor Cliff Colnot and guest conductors, which this year includes James Feddeck, winner of the 2013 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) presents its annual spring festival from May 19 to June 8, 2014, which this year is entitled Truth to Power. Inspired by the phrase "speaking truth to power"-part of a 1955 Quaker treatise that outlined alternatives to violence and served as a cornerstone for the pacifist movement-the Truth to Power Festival highlights the works of Dmitri Shostakovich, Benjamin Britten and Sergei Prokofiev, three composers who believed in music's ability to connect people and thus harness the power of shared experience.

The Marriott Theatre will present the Chicagoland premiere of the Broadway Revival of GODSPELL, previewing June 4, opening June 11 and running through August 10 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. GODSPELL was originally conceived and directed by John-Michael Tebelak, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, composer of Wicked and Pippin. Director and Choreographer Matt Raftery delivers a fresh, organic, intimate production, literally "illustrating" the parables of the New Testament and bringing its lessons to life on the Marriott stage. The brilliant recent Broadway arrangements and orchestrations will be delivered under the Musical Direction of Ryan T. Nelson.

David McGill, principal bassoon of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 17 years, has resigned his position with the Orchestra, effective in August 2014, in order to accept a full-time teaching position at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music.

Tonight, May 13, Goodman Theatre celebrates the life and creative contributions of Robert (Bob) Christen, its longtime Resident Lighting Designer and one of the most prolific live performance designers in the country, who passed away last month at age 64.

The Massapequa Philharmonic will be featuring guest conductor David Bernard and violinist Kristin Lee in its Season Finale at Berner Auditorium in Massapequa tonight, May 10th at 8 pm.

Former Music Director Christoph Eschenbach returns for one of the largest choral-symphonic works ever written, Gustav Mahler's 8th Symphony, tonight and tomorrow, May 9 and 10 at 7:30 pm. Nicknamed the Symphony of a Thousand, Mahler's Symphony No. 8 will be performed by more than 400 musicians, chorus members and soloists together onstage at Jones Hall for an event seen only once before in the Houston Symphony's 100-year history.

James Conlon, Music Director of the Cincinnati May Festival since 1979, conducts the May Festival Chorus and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra tonight, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium during the fourth and final installment of the Spring For Music festival.

The WBT is celebrating 40 years of Broadway Musicals & Fine Dining! For this momentous occasion, Mary Poppins is flying onto our stage! The cherished 1964 Disney film has been re-imagined into a spectacular new musical. The show has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes.

Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce Writers Theatre's World Premiere production of Days Like Today, with music and lyrics by Alan Schmuckler and book by Laura Eason, directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam, music direction by Doug Peck and choreography by Tommy Rapley. The production runs today, May 6-July 13, 2014 at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The press opening is May 22, 2014 at 7:30pm.

Jazz pianist and MacArthur "Genius" award recipient Jason Moran and internationally acclaimed, Chicago-based visual artist Theaster Gates premiere their new work, Looks of a Lot, in a Symphony Center Presents Jazz series concert on Friday, May 30 at 8 p.m. Influenced by Chicago stories from various eras, the project represents the second commission by Symphony Center Presents Jazz series and is also a part of the CSO's Truth to Power Festival, offering an exploration of transformative music composed during some of the most challenging chapters of history.

Music Director Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra announce the appointments of Wei-Ting Kuo and Danny Lai as the newest members of the viola section, effective May 19, 2014.

Guest conductor Jack Everly joins the Utah Symphony this weekend, May 2-3 for a trip down memory lane at Abravanel Hall. This special concert, celebrating the Baby Boom generation, highlights songs and television shows from the 1960s. The program features music by the Beach Boys, Frankie Valli, and the Beatles, and guest vocalists Roy Chicas, Jim Hogan, Marissa McGowan, N'Kenge, Kristine Reese and Max Quinlan.

Former Music Director Christoph Eschenbach returns for one of the largest choral-symphonic works ever written, Gustav Mahler's 8th Symphony, on May 9 and 10 at 7:30 pm. Nicknamed the Symphony of a Thousand, Mahler's Symphony No. 8 will be performed by more than 400 musicians, chorus members and soloists together onstage at Jones Hall for an event seen only once before in the Houston Symphony's 100-year history.

Former Music Director Christoph Eschenbach returns for one of the largest choral-symphonic works ever written, Gustav Mahler's 8th Symphony, on May 9 and 10 at 7:30 pm. Nicknamed theSymphony of a Thousand, Mahler's Symphony No. 8 will be performed by more than 400 musicians, chorus members and soloists together onstage at Jones Hall for an event seen only once before in the Houston Symphony's 100-year history.

The New York Philharmonic will present Pixar in Concert, a program illustrating Pixar's mastery of film scoring to underscore its celebrated storytelling. Clips from all 14 Pixar films released to date - the Toy Story trilogy; A Bug's Life; Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University; Finding Nemo; The Incredibles; Cars and Cars 2; Ratatouille; Wall·E; UP; and Brave - will be screened as the Orchestra performs the music live, led by film composer and conductor David Newman. The concerts take place tonight, May 1, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 2 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, May 3 at 8:00 p.m.

This just in! Leslie Odom Jr. ("Smash") will join Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo in the New York City Center Encores! Off-Center production of Jonathan Larson¹stick, tick… BOOM!, running for five performances, June 25 ­ 28. The opening show of City Center's acclaimed Encores! Off-Center series of landmark Off-Broadway musicals will be directed byOliver Butler with choreography by Camille A. Brown and music direction by Chris Fenwick. Jeanine Tesori is Encores! Off-Center Artistic Director.