The Ravinia Festival has announced a $38 million gift from The Negaunee Foundation to upgrade the historic Martin Theatre. This gift is the largest in Ravinia’s history and will provide for significant enhancements to the theater, the only remaining original building at Ravinia from 1904, located just inside the park’s main gate. In a statement, Jeffrey P. Haydon, President and {…}
The Ravinia Festival has announced its winter holiday programming. The programming will be held between Dec. 2 and 6, 2026. Here are the vocal performances. The first concert will be “Chanukah: Songs of Light featuring Noah Aronson & The Or Collective.” The concert will also feature cantors from local synagogues, to present a modern, reflective take on holiday repertoire. Performance {…}
Mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade spent decades among the most celebrated singers of her generation, performing on the world’s leading stages, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera, and the Paris Opera. Though she stepped back from full time performing in 2010, retirement {…}
(Photo credit: Lieberman Photography) The Ravinia Festival announces it 2026 programming. This article only features classical vocal concerts. James Conlon leads a semi-stages version of Mozart’s “The Abduction from the Seraglio” starring Kathryn Lewek and Miles Mykkanen. Performance Dates: July 16 & 18, 2026 Chanticleer perform as part of their 2026 tour. Performance Date: July 26, 2026 Carlos Simon’s “Good {…}
On July 30, 2025, soprano Ana María Martínez returns to Ravinia for a special program with pianist Kevin Murphy. The performance marks the soprano’s third appearance with the festival following two notable showcases, both headed by conductor James Conlon. In 2007, the soprano was featured in a gala alongside famed tenor Plácido Doming and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Three years {…}
The Ravinia Festival has announced its 2025 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. The festival will present Opera for the Young’s “The Magic Flute.” Performance Date: June 28, 2025 Marin Alsop conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara. Performance Date: July 13, 2025 The CSO & Chorus will be conducted by Marin Alsop {…}
(Credit: Strand) The Ravinia Festival has announced its fall and spring Bennett Gordon Hall Concert Series. For the purposes of this article, only performances featuring classical vocal works will be spotlighted. Tenor Ryan Townsend Strand presents the art song cycle “Letters to Jackie” alongside pianist Karina Kontorovitch. The piece spotlights 15 letters of condolence sent to Jacqueline Kennedy following the {…}
Few artists in the opera world today are as versatile as mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke. Just take a look at the two-time Grammy Award winner’s upcoming 2023-24 season and you’ll find performances of classics such as “Don Giovanni” and “Messiah,” alongside newer works such as “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.” Last season was no different with Cooke navigating works by Mozart, {…}
For many, Kathryn Lewek IS the Queen of the Night. She holds the record for most performances of the role at the Metropolitan Opera and has taken her interpretation of the famed villain to opera houses such as the Royal Opera House, the Vienna State Opera, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu, among many, many others. This summer, she will {…}
The Ravinia Festival in Illinois has announced that Jeffrey P. Haydon will become the festival’s new CEO and president. Haydon succeeds Welz Kauffman, who leaves Ravinia in September after two decades as CEO. Haydon has led the Caramoor Festival for the past 12 years and was the executive director of the Ojai Music Festival for nine years. He also worked {…}
For any fans who still believe classical music is confined to opulent concert halls, only to be enjoyed by the pillars of society, meet The Knights. Founded by brothers Colin and Eric Jacobsen, this adventurous 40-member chamber orchestra performs everything from Beethoven to Jimi Hendrix. Born into a musical family, with a father who played in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, {…}
