Time to switch from summer to seasonal music
The area classical music scene enters its annual transition from summer to the "regular" season with events at the Ravinia Festival next week through Sept. 19 and Lyric Opera of Chicago's annual all-star concert at Millennium Park on Sept. 11.
The Lyric's season will begin Sept. 26 with a gala opening-night performance of "Tosca," starring soprano Deborah Voigt in the title role. Meanwhile, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is heading to Europe for an international tour in anticipation of its Symphony Center season-opening concerts the first weekend of October; also, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra will launch its 60th season that weekend.
Ravinia's final two weeks of events will be capped with two performances (8 p.m. Sept. 17 and 19) of the final installment of its year-long celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial. It is the world premiere of the much-anticipated Ravinia-commissioned dance theater work by choreographer Bill T. Jones, "Fondly Do We Hope - Fervently Do We Pray."
Jones, who won a Tony Award for choreographing "Spring Awakening" on Broadway, has been working the past three years in creating "Fondly Do We Hope - Fervently Do We Pray." The work is co-composed by Jerome Begin, Christopher Lancaster and George Lewis Jr.
The two performances in the pavilion will feature dancers from the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Formed in 1982 and featuring 10 dancers, the Harlem-based company has performed in more than 200 cities around the world.
Chicago-based Kartemquin Films, noted for such documentaries as "Hoop Dreams," "Home for Life" and "Vietnam: Long Time Coming," is making a behind-the-scenes, feature-length documentary on the creation of Jones' Ravinia commission. Kartemquin will create the film in conjunction with Media Process Group of Chicago. Gordon Quinn, executive director and founder of Kartemquin Films, will co-direct along with Media Process Group founder Bob Hercules. The award-winning PBS series "American Masters" is co-producing the documentary and will premiere it during its 2010 season.
Two additional Lincoln-themed programs are set for Thursday and Friday, Sept. 10 and 11, in Bennett-Gordon Hall, part of Ravinia's annual Ruth Page Festival of Dance and featuring Concert Dance, Inc.
Tickets for "Fondly Do We Hope - Fervently Do We Pray," are $65, $50 and $25, with lawn admission $10. The park opens at 5 p.m. For information, call (847) 266-5100 or visit ravinia.org.
Lyric's free extravaganza: On Friday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m., Lyric Opera will present its annual "Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park," a free outdoor concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
Music director Sir Andrew Davis will lead the Lyric Opera Orchestra and an array of international soloists, including stars from the 2009-10 season - Deborah Voigt, Vladimir Galouzine, James Morris, Ana María Martínez, Joseph Kaiser, Kyle Ketelsen and Lucas Meachem - joined by featured artists from Lyric's Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center: Katherine Lerner, Amanda Majeski, Amber Wagner and René Barbera.
The concert will be carried live on WFMT 98.7-FM as part of the Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts.
The concert will feature a selection of overtures, arias and ensembles.
Parking is available in the Millennium Park and Grant Park garages at regular evening rates.
George Preston, WFMT's afternoon program host, and Roger Pines, the Lyric's dramaturg, will host the broadcast starting at 7:15 p.m. Preston and Pines were recently named the new broadcast team for the regular-season Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts, following the death earlier this year of longtime host Norman Pellegrini.
For additional information on Lyric Opera's 2009-10 season and ticket availability, phone (312) 332-2244, Ext. 5600, or go to lyricopera.org.