Ravinia’s 2020 CSO Residency

Ravinia’s 85th annual summer residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra comprises 15 concerts, from July 10 through August 16, that boast classical favorites, Chicago premieres, and songs from Broadway to the savanna. In this milestone year for women’s rights, stage and screen powerhouse Cynthia Erivo headlines the annual Women’s Board gala, conducted by the pioneering Marin Alsop, and a new piano concerto by Paola Prestini, written for and performed by Lara Downes, receives its Midwest premiere.





One of Ravinia’s favorite women, Patricia Racette stars in Leonard Bernstein’s A White House Cantata in the festival’s continuing celebration of America’s most important musician in this election year. Mixed in are celebrations of Itzhak Perlman’s 75th and Christoph Eschenbach’s 80th birthdays as well as glittering salutes to Beethoven’s 250th. Hot American conductor Teddy Abrams and My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James bring their newly recorded project The Order of Nature to the Midwest, and last summer’s megahit remake of The Lion King is shown with its tuneful Hans Zimmer and Elton John music played live.

2020 Season Concerts: Friday, July 10 — Pavilion Opening Night with Marin and Midori Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Marin Alsop, conductor

Midori, violin Program: Bernstein: Slava! (A Political Overture) Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 (“Leningrad”) Program: Saturday, July 11 — Pavilion All Rachmaninoff Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Marin Alsop, conductor

Lukáš Vondráček, piano Program: All-Rachmaninoff Program Vocalise for orchestra Piano Concerto No. 3 Symphonic Dances Program: Sunday, July 12 — Pavilion Cynthia Erivo: Legendary Women’s Voices Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Marin Alsop, conductor

Cynthia Erivo, vocalist

Program to include songs by some of the greatest female singers of all time, including Nina Simone, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Gladys Knight



Gala evening benefiting Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play music education programs Thursday, July 16 — Pavilion The Passion of Joan of Arc / Voices of Light Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Marin Alsop, conductor

Vocality

RSMI Singers Program: Richard Einhorn: Voices of Light Program:

Oratorio inspired by Carl Dreyer’s 1928 silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc, performed with the complete film shown on Pavilion and Lawn video screens Two ways to save on classical concerts at Ravinia! Ravinia’s 10-punch passes are easy and economical ways to enjoy the CSO residency at Ravinia. Get your 2020 season punch passes now and enjoy the best deals on tickets at the gate to hear the nation’s finest orchestra. "CSOMG" Pavilion Pass

"Classical Grass" Lawn Pass Friday, July 17 — Pavilion Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Marin Alsop, conductor

Jorge Federico Osorio, piano Program: Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini Elgar: “Enigma” Variations Program: Wednesday, July 22 — Pavilion The Lion King (2019): In Concert Live to Film Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Thiago Tiberio, conductor Program: Hans Zimmer: Score to The Lion King Program:

The megahit photorealistic remake of the classic Disney film comes to life as the CSO plays the memorable music of Hans Zimmer and Elton John with the voices of Donald Glover, Beyoncé, and more. Saturday, July 25 — Pavilion Jim James & Teddy Abrams: The Order of Nature Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Teddy Abrams, conductor

Jim James, vocalist

Lara Downes, piano Program: Paola Prestini: Hindsight for piano and orchestra Price: Piano Concerto in One Movement J. James/T. Abrams: The Order of Nature Program: Wednesday, July 29 — Pavilion Trifonov Plays Beethoven Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Louis Langrée, conductor

Daniil Trifonov, piano Program: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 Brahms: Symphony No. 4 Program: Thursday, July 30 — Pavilion Bernstein’s A White House Cantata Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Wayne Marshall, conductor

Apollo Chorus of Chicago

Rod Gilfry, baritone

Patricia Racette, soprano

Lauren Michelle, soprano

Gary Griffin, stage director Program: Bernstein: A White House Cantata Program: Saturday, August 1 — Pavilion Beethoven’s “Triple”: Bell, Denk, and Isserlis Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Michael Stern, conductor

Joshua Bell, violin

Steven Isserlis, cello

Jeremy Denk, piano Program: Bloch: From Jewish Life Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo capriccioso Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 14 Beethoven: Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano (“Triple”) Program: Friday, August 7 — Pavilion Symphonie Fantastique Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Christoph Eschenbach, conductor

Stathis Karapanos, flute Program: Khachaturian: Flute Concerto Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique Program: Saturday, August 8 — Pavilion Beethoven’s 9th, Eschenbach’s 80th Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus

Christoph Eschenbach, conductor

Stathis Karapanos, flute

Erin Wall, soprano

Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-soprano

Paul Appleby, tenor

Matthias Goerne, baritone Program: Mikis Theodorakis: Zorbas Suite (arr. Achilleas Wastor, Stathis Karapanos) Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 Program: Sunday, August 9 — Pavilion Mahler’s Vienna Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Christoph Eschenbach, conductor

William Hagen, violin Program: Korngold: Violin Concerto Mahler: Symphony No. 1 Program: Saturday, August 15 — Pavilion Perlman Plays Mendelssohn Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Edo de Waart, conductor

Itzhak Perlman, violin Program: John Adams: The Chairman Dances Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 Program: Sunday, August 16 — Pavilion Tchaikovsky Spectacular Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Itzhak Perlman, conductor

Garrick Ohlsson, piano Program: Tchaikovsky Spectacular Symphony No. 5 Piano Concerto No. 1 1812 Overture (with cannons) Program:

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