Ravinia Festival ushers summer out with a bang

Labor Day traditionally marks the end of summer, and the Ravinia Festival sends it out with a bang in the annual Labor Day Spectacular Monday. The family-friendly event emphasizes an evening on the lawn listening to classical music and a rousing 1812 Overture with live cannon accompaniment.

"The Ravinia performance is an opportunity to see and hear Tchaikovsky's original 1880 score, performed as planned, with all 16 shots in the overture (Opus 49), as written," said J. Paul Barnett, company president of the Indiana-based South Bend Replicas. "The piece has five shots representing the Battle of Borodino, and 11 shots to punctuate 'God Save the Tsar,' and the historical aspect is just amazing."

Though often played on U.S. holidays, the 1812 Overture was written to commemorate Napoleon's retreat from Russia. On Sept. 7, 1812, Napoleon's French forces and Russia's Imperial Army met at Borodino in Russia's only coordinated stand, 75 miles west of Moscow. An estimated 100,000 casualties produced no clear winner in the battle, but broke the back of the French invasion.

Barnett, 76, has been at the switchbox and performed at Ravinia for more than three decades, bringing a batterie of Lyle guns staged by crew chief Jim Olson. "Lyle guns were developed in 1878, for projecting lifelines to and from distressed ships as a lifesaving device. It's the objective to get the shots timed perfectly ... it's the objective of everyone, including the orchestra, to meet that goal."

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Karen Lynne Deal, with Alexander Kobrin on piano, will supply the music during an all-Tchaikovsky program that also features the Waltz from "Swan Lake," and the Piano Concerto No. 1 (Opus 23) in B-Flat Minor.

The evening is being billed as a "Tribute to Erich Kunzel," the late conductor associated with numerous orchestras and a Ravinia fixture.

"He was a great friend and collaborator, and started the entire '1812' idea with the Cleveland Symphony in 1967," said Barnett.

Deal is in her 11th year as conductor of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, which debuted at Ravinia two years ago, performing in honor of the Lincoln Bicentennial. Deal brings her own set of credentials that cites an associate conductor position with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.

"I was very excited at the invitation to conduct the Labor Day concert, an evening filled with tradition and in honor of Maestro Kunzel," said Deal. "I never personally met him, but of course watched his career closely, and the success he had bringing orchestral music to audiences all over the world.

"Like Maestro Kunzel, I enjoy pops conducting and the opportunities it gives to interact with the audience. The less formal atmosphere, and familiarity of the music, encourage people to relax and enjoy themselves ... we are all enjoying the moment together," she said.

Past programs have concluded with an inspiring version of John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever," complete with a flag backdrop and balloons wafting through the air. Deal noted, "Expect a couple of surprises, great music, a wonderful guest artist, and a lot of fun."