“Ravinia has clarified future directions of classical music programming at the festival following James Conlon’s departure as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra residencies, at least when it comes to the 2016 festival,” writes John von Rhein in Tuesday, August 25’s Chicago Tribune. “With the post of summer CSO music director remaining open, filling the breach next year will be guest conductors, some new and some returning. Also in the offing are several film projects and the American premiere of a violin concerto written by jazz trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis for Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti. Cycles of Beethoven chamber music in Bennett Gordon Hall will complement CSO programs of Beethoven symphonic works. … The CSO will present 17 concerts from July 12 to Aug. 21, 2016 … Along with former music director James Levine (whose women’s board gala benefit performance of Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ Symphony was previously announced), guest conductors will include Christian Macelaru, Vasily Petrenko, Ben Gernon, Gustavo Gimeno, Kirill Karabits, and George Hanson, the last six new to the Ravinia roster. … An unusual offering will be a new interpretation, co-commissioned by Ravinia, of Stravinsky’s ‘The Firebird’ created by Janni Younge of Handspring Puppet Company.”
Posted September 2, 2015
