Soprano's swan song at Ravinia

The Ravinia Festival will present Kiri Te Kanawa as its Gala Benefit Evening guest star on July 19, 2008, in the internationally renowned soprano's final Chicago-area appearance, Ravinia president and CEO Welz Kauffman announced today.

Te Kanawa, who last performed at Ravinia's gala concert in 2001, will be making her farewell tour of the United States next summer as she winds down her spectacular three-decade-plus career. The New Zealand native will be joined for this concert by Ravinia music director James Conlon and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Program details will be announced later.

"After last year's spectacular gala with one of opera's greatest tenors, Placido Domingo, it's more than appropriate to feature one of the world's most celebrated sopranos in her grand finale," Kauffman said.

The annual gala concert is hosted by the Ravinia women's board as its major fundraiser for the festival.

Reservations for the July 19 black-tie gala dinner, which include priority seating for the concert, are available now by calling Agatha Hwong at (847) 266-5045. Tickets for the concert only will go on sale in the spring.