Idina Menzel, Ashley Brown and More Set for Ravinia Fest

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the crown jewel of Ravinia's classical programming, kicks off its annual summer residency at the festival with a concert of American favorites at 5 p.m. on July 4. The performance will feature vocalist Ashley Brown, who won rave reviews in the title role of Mary Poppins on Broadway and recently made her Lyric Opera debut in an acclaimed  production of Show Boat.  Steven Reineke is the music director of the New York Pops and principal pops conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra, Long Beach and Modesto symphony orchestras. Known as a protégé of Ravinia's beloved Erich Kunzel, he will lead the CSO through an evening of American music that runs the gamut from patriotic anthems to Disney hits and Broadway favorites. While pavilion seating is usually available only to listeners age 7 or older, music-lovers of any age will be permitted into the pavilion for this family-friendly show, making it the perfect opportunity to introduce young listeners to symphonic music.

Hailed by Musical America as "conductor of the year," Jaap van Zweden, who at just 18 years old became the youngest concertmaster of the esteemed Concertgebouw Orchestra (a position he held until 1995), was encouraged to conduct by none other than Leonard Bernstein. He makes his Ravinia debut conducting the CSO in Mahler's Symphony No. 6 on Saturday, July 7. This concert also features a ticket and dining package for a special price of $75.

Show-stopping Broadway superstar Idina Menzel makes her Ravinia and CSO debuts with hit-making conductor Marvin Hamlisch at 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 8. Menzel made her breakout Broadway performance as Maureen in Rent and became Elphaba in Wicked, for which she won the Tony award for lead actress in a musical. She has been featured in television shows Private Practice, Glee, Mastercard Soundstage and the concert version of Chess: The Musical. Hamlisch has won numerous awards, including three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony and three Golden Globes. As a Broadway composer, he has written the scores for such hit shows as The Goodbye Girl, Sweet Smell of Success and A Chorus Line, for which he received the Pulitzer Prize. He has also composed for more than 40 films, including The Way We Were, The Sting,Sophie's Choice, Ordinary People, Ice Castles and Take the Money and Run. Pavilion seats for this show are sold out, but lawn seats are still available. From 3 from 4:30 p.m. on July 8, Ravinia will host a special family space on the north lawn, where families can engage in activities that include music-related crafts, storytelling and an "instrument petting zoo" where kids can experience and play instruments.

An Avery Fisher Prize winner, violinist Midori tackles the Everest of the violin repertoire, Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin, over two evenings, Tuesday, July 3 and Thursday, July 5. Both shows are at 8 p.m. in the Martin Theatre. Named a Messenger of Peace by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2007, she has created a new model for young artists who seek to balance the joys and demands of a performing career at the highest level with a hands-on investment in the power of music to change lives. Midori will also sign CDs in front of Ravinia Gifts following her performances. Ravinia offers a reserved ticket package for both performances at a special price of $125.

One of the world's top mezzo-sopranos, Stephanie Blythe returns to Ravinia with a salute to Kate Smith at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 2, in the Martin Theatre. She will perform songs that Smith became known for throughout her career, such as Irving Berlin's God Bless America. Blythe has a rich career history, including performing with renowned opera companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Seattle Opera, Royal Opera at Covent Garden and the Opéra National de Paris. This concert also features a ticket and dining package for a special price of $75.

Angel Romero, the "Spanish Maestro of Guitar," returns to the festival for his first Ravinia recital in 20 years for an 8 p.m. concert on Sunday, July 8. The program includes works by Vivaldi, Sanz, Albeniz, Boccerini, Granados and Celedonio Romero and also features artists from Ravinia's summer music conservatory, the Steans Music Institute. In addition to his performing and recording career, Romero is known for his activities in the film industry. He was awarded the Recording Academy President's Merit Award in 2007, an honor recognizing his career that began with his professional debut at age 6.

The Emerson String Quartet returns to Ravinia for a performance in the Martin Theatre at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 6. The concert features works by Mozart, Adès and Beethoven. Newly inducted into the American Classical Hall of Fame, the Emerson String Quartet has received nine Grammy® Awards (including two for Best Classical Album, an unprecedented honor for a chamber music group), three Gramophone Awards, and the coveted Avery Fisher Prize. The quartet will also sign CDs in front of Ravinia Gifts following their performance.

Ravinia's summer music conservatory, the Steans Music Institute, brings together talented young musicians from around the world to make music coached by an internationally renowned faculty. Faculty member and cellist Gary Hoffman presents a free Steans master class at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 5. Prior to the CSO concert on Saturday, July 7, Steans musicians will appear in a preview concert at 5:30 p.m. in Bennett Gordon Hall. This concert is free with a paid entry for the mainstage show. At 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 8, piano and strings artists will present a free concert in Bennett Gordon Hall.

The festival's Kraft Great Kids Concert series continues with Classical Kids Live!, directed by Paul Pement and featuring Natalie Berg and Thad Avery with the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by George Stelluto. The orchestra, which celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 2011, performs their show Beethoven Lives Upstairs at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 7. Stelluto makes his debut on the Ravinia podium for this performance. Over 300 students are involved in the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra's seven ensembles based at the Art Center at Elgin Community College. After the concert Ravinia will host the "instrument petting zoo" where kids can experience and play instruments in the Martin Theatre Plaza.

Ravinia Festival is located at Lake Cook and Green Bay roads in Highland Park. Tickets are available by visiting Ravinia.org or calling the Ravinia Festival Box Office at 847-266-5100. A $7 service fee is added to all online and phone ticket orders. Ravinia welcomes all festival fans to follow, connect and interact online at backstage.ravinia.org, facebook.com (search Ravinia Festival) and twitter.com/raviniafestival. Ravinia Festival is a not-for-profit organization.

To post a comment, you must register and login.