Ravinia Releases 2013 Schedule
By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 7, 2013 2:45PM
Willie Nelson brings his band to Highland Park July 14. (Photo credit: Jerod Harris/Getty Images)
Ravinia announced its full 2013 lineup this morning and it's the standard mix of classical music, jazz, yacht rock acts and 90s two-hit wonders. As usual, there are some gems among the lineup worth packing a picnic basket and taking a train to Highland Park for an evening of music and frivolity.
Sting, who's been touring the past two years behind a rock band — well, as "rock" as his solo career can get — comes to Ravinia for two shows June 7 and 8. Willie Nelson, his family and a cloud of dope smoke roll into the festival July 14. Our pick for the "Poi Dog Pondering stampede" concert of the season goes to Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings June 25. (James Hunter opens.) Or it could be David Byrne and St. Vincent July 6.
Classical music lovers will want to pencil in Yo-Yo Ma's Midwest premiere of The Goat Rodeo Sessions 7 p.m. Aug. 18. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra will be busy this summer. Among the scheduled programs for their Ravinia residency are an evening of Mozart 5 p.m. July 28 with Leon Fleisher, Mahler's 7th Symphony with Ravinia Music Director James Conlon July 25, and a performance of the score from The Lord of the Rings — The Two Towers Aug. 15 and 16. Ravinia has priced 2,500 pavilion seats for each CSO concert at $25 each, and children and students through college are admitted for free to all classical events.
We've included the full schedule below. Tickets for the season will go on sale online to the public April 25; Ravinia donors may buy tickets now.