Ravinia Festival News

On October 11, 2012, at New York's Symphony Space, the Chuns continue their tribute to the Hungarian composer with "Folk Inflections with Angela and Jennifer Chun," a program featuring a second set of selections of the Bartok duos along with some of Luciano Berio's Duetti per due violini, which were written in homage to Bartok; Edmund Rubbra's Phantasy for two violins and piano; and Bartok's Roumanian Folk Dances for violin and piano, which the performers have arranged for two violins and piano.

The International Beethoven Project, headed by President George Lepauw, has announced the recipient of the third annual Beethoven Spirit Award, Zarin Mehta, a global leader in arts administration, retiring President and Executive Director of the New York Philharmonic, and former President and Executive Director of the Ravinia Festival.

Rock band Duran Duran has canceled its Aug. 29 Ravinia Festival concert due to keyboardist Nick Rhodes's continued illness, which has forced the band to cancel its last three concerts in Kettering, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; and Atlantic City, NJ.

The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival presents the Juilliard String Quartet tonight, August 24 at 7:30 pm at The Farmers' Museum. The all-Beethoven program features the String Quartet in C sharp minor, Op. 131, and the Quartet in A minor, Op. 132.

This month, as Susanna Phillips finishes her performances of Mozart's Idomeneo at Ravinia Festival (August 17 and 19), the soprano will immerse herself in chamber music at Twickenham Fest, the summer chamber music festival that she co-founded in her hometown of Huntsville, Alabama.

Cellist Maya Beiser will see the New York premiere of her new production, ELSEWHERE, a "CelloOpera," in four performances from October 17 through 20 at 7:30pm, during the 2012 BAM Next Wave Festival in the inaugural season of the Fishman Space, part of BAM's new Richard B. Fischer Building which opens in September 2012 at 321 Ashland Place in Brooklyn. ELSEWHERE is produced by Beth Morrison Projects.

Continuing Ravinia's series of $10 concerts in the intimate Bennett Gordon Hall is pianist Behzod Abduraimov performing a 6 p.m. concert on Friday, Aug. 31. Pianist Sean Botkin, who performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in an all-Rachmaninoff program on Aug. 2 at Ravinia, returns for a solo recital in Bennett Gordon Hall at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 28.

Cellist Maya Beiser and composer/pianist Michael Harrison's new album Time Loops will be released by Cantaloupe Music on October 30, 2012.

Michael Weber, Artistic Director of Porchlight Music Theatre, announced casting for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, February 2 - March 10, 2013 and Pal Joey, April 20 - May 26, 2013, both at Stage 773, 1225 W Belmont and the naming of new Artistic Associates and members to the Advisory Board. Alexis J. Rogers will play "Billie Holiday" in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, by Lanie Robertson to be directed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Rob Lindley.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the crown jewel of Ravinia's summer classical programming, closes out their Ravinia summer residency in a concert led by Ravinia Music Director James Conlon in the Martin Theatre at 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 20. The performance features CSO soloists and includes Spohr's Nonet in F Major, Op. 31 and Schubert's Octet in F Major, D. 803. The concert also features a ticket and dining package for a special price of $75.

A dominatrix dungeon, a Nazi concentration camp, and the end of space and time are just three of the places audiences will find themselves at when AOP (American Opera Projects) presents Six Scenes 2012, concert readings from operas-in-development created during AOP's Composers & the Voice (C&V) program.

The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival presents the Juilliard String Quartet on Friday, August 24 at 7:30 pm at The Farmers' Museum. The all-Beethoven program features the String Quartet in C sharp minor, Op. 131, and the Quartet in A minor, Op. 132.

This month, as Susanna Phillips finishes her performances of Mozart's Idomeneo at Ravinia Festival (August 17 and 19), the soprano will immerse herself in chamber music at Twickenham Fest, the summer chamber music festival that she co-founded in her hometown of Huntsville, Alabama.

As the first of 10 musical performances celebrating 10 years at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, the Music Institute of Chicago presents ensemble in residence and faculty members The Lincoln Trio September 23.

Ravinia Music Director James Conlon leads a program with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and piano virtuoso Jean Yves Thibaudet at 8 p.m. tonight, Aug. 7, in all-French repertoire including Debussy's Two Nocturnes and La mer; and Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major and Piano Concerto in D Major for the Left Hand. Thibaudet, who has appeared as a soloist with the world's greatest orchestras, was recently inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. The concert also features a ticket and dining package for a special price of $75.

Betty Buckley won a Tony Award for the role of Grizabella in Cats, starred as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, was a Tony nominee for Triumph of Love, and starred on TV's Eight is Enough, film's Tender Mercies and Carrie, and in many other memorable roles. On Aug 11 & 12 she makes her debut at The Art House, joined by Seth Rudetsky at piano, as the celebrated Broadway at The Art House series continues. For tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 508-487-9222.

In this, his 19th Broadway show, Hearn will portray the dual roles of James Kennedy, Aimee's kindhearted father; and Brother Bob, a popular preacher whose growing resentment of Aimee and her public power fuels him to vehemently discredit her from his pulpit.