Michael Feinstein happy to share stage with Kristin Chenoweth at Ravinia
Michael Feinstein has lost count of the number of times he has performed at the Ravinia Festival.
Nonetheless, the famed multitalented pianist/singer/conductor and musical archivist of the Great American Songbook is glad to be back yet again in Highland Park - especially as part of a double-bill concert with Tony and Emmy Award-winner Kristin Chenoweth (“Wicked,” “Trial & Error”).
“We've known each other for many years, and we did work together in New York once as part of a series I do at Carnegie Hall,” said Feinstein of Chenoweth. “Kristin and I certainly have similar musical tastes and loves. So when the opportunity came to work together at Ravinia, we both said, 'Yes.'”
Rather than sharing the stage continuously, the two Broadway veterans will mostly be doing two separate sets. Feinstein is set to perform first with a 17-piece big band led by music director John Oddo, while Chenoweth sings with a six-piece combo led by her longtime music director Mary-Mitchell Campbell.
Yet Feinstein said he and Chenoweth will come together to sing some duets at the show's start and end. Feinstein didn't want to spoil any surprises by naming numbers, save for the beloved Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II song “All the Things You Are” from the little-known 1939 Broadway musical “Very Warm for May.”
“Because (Chenoweth) is so musically eclectic, it is fun to put together songs with her,” Feinstein said.
Though Feinstein says his song repertory includes contemporary pop, he's best known for championing popular American music from the first few decades of the 20th century. And much of that is due to his amazing luck in the late 1970s of getting a dream job cataloging the private recordings of the prolific lyricist Ira Gershwin - older brother to the great composer George Gershwin.
“I'm always doing Gershwin concerts, and I'm very close to Ira Gershwin's nephew, Michael Strunsky,” Feinstein said. “We have been working on a play about my relationship with Ira, which is in development.”
Feinstein also says he's in the process of recording a Gershwin duets album with country artists. So far he's only recorded one track with Dolly Parton, but he said there are plans for other artists like Jennifer Nettles, Brad Paisley and Martina McBride.
“It was an idea that seemed natural, because the songs are timeless,” Feinstein said. “The accompaniment will be recorded in Nashville, with a country sound that morphs so perfectly and naturally to the Gershwin songs that I think it's going to be a revelation for people. The songs will have a new life that way.”
Feinstein's archivist skills have expanded to tie into his move into conducting orchestral ensembles like the Pasadena Symphony & Pops in California and the Palm Beach Symphony in Florida. Of particular interest to Feinstein is tracking down and restoring vintage symphonic arrangements of classic Broadway and Hollywood scores.
“It's the ultimate karaoke,” Feinstein said. “It's very exciting to get incredible vocal artists to sing these vintage charts that have not been heard for 50, 60 or 70 years.”
Though Feinstein says there aren't current offers for him to conduct in Chicago, he hopes the invitation will come soon. Until then, he's more than happy to share the stage with Chenoweth at Ravinia.
Michael Feinstein and Kristin Chenoweth
<b>Location:</b> Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org
<b>Showtime:</b> 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14
<b>Tickets:</b> $70-$90 pavilion seating; $25-$30 lawn seating