Broadcasts from the Ravinia Festival create the perfect soundtrack for summer.
Our summertime season of chamber music and solo recitals from Ravinia is hosted by Kerry Frumkin. The performances are recorded by Hudson Fair in the festival’s Martin Theatre and in Bennett Gordon Hall providing the ideal summer setting for up-close live performances by your favorite classical artists from around the world. Previous Ravinia broadcasts have included recitals with Danielle de Niese, Karita Mattila, and violinist Pinchas Zukerman.
Cellist Alisa Weilerstein and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
September 23, 2019
Cellist Alisa Weilerstein joins conductor Long Yu and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the oldest symphony orchestra in Asia, for a performance of Dvořák’s cello concerto at the pavilion of Ravinia Festival. Also featured in this program are works by Rachmaninoff and Chinese-born composer Qigang Chen. READ MORE: Hear 5 of Alisa Weilerstein’s Favorite New Works for Cello
Harpsichordist Jory Vinikour performs Bach’s Goldberg Variations
September 16, 2019
Acclaimed harpsichordist Jory Vinikour takes the stage of Bennett Gordon Hall to perform Bach’s famed Goldberg Variations.
Renée Fleming and Emerson String Quartet perform Previn’s Penelope
September 9, 2019
Soprano Renée Fleming, pianist Simone Dinnerstein, and the Emerson String Quartet perform André Previn’s final work, Penelope. A Ravinia co-commission, the piece features text by Tom Stoppard and narration by Jennifer Ehle.
Soprano Angel Blue
September 2, 2019
Soprano Angel Blue and pianist Catherine Miller take the stage of Ravinia Festival’s Martin Theatre to perform a selection of songs by Mozart, Strauss, Rachmaninoff, Jake Heggie, and more, plus two spirituals.
Matthew Polenzani
August 26, 2019
Evanston-born star tenor Matthew Polenzani returns to Ravinia Festival for this program of Schubert, Beethoven, Brahms, and Janáček that also features mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano, pianist Kevin Murphy, and singers from Ravinia's Steans Music Institute (RSMI) — the festival's summer young artists conservatory.
Danish String Quartet
August 19, 2019
The Danish String Quartet took the Martin Theatre stage with Finnish pianist Juho Pohjonen for this 2017 program of works by Haydn, Beethoven, and Shostakovich.
Gary Hoffman and Jon Kimura Parker
August 12, 2019
Cellist Gary Hoffman returns to Ravinia for this recital of works by Debussy, Brahms, Fauré, and Rachmaninoff with accompaniment by pianist Jon Kimura Parker.
Gautier Capuçon and Jean-Yves Thibaudet
August 5, 2019
Cellist Gautier Capuçon and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet took the stage at Ravinia’s Martin Theatre on July 22 to perform this program of works by Robert Schumann, Brahms, Sibelius, and Shostakovich.
Leonard Bernstein’s Songfest
July 29, 2019
Leonard Bernstein’s Songfest, a cycle of American poems for six singers, is performed by the Caroga Arts Ensemble conducted by Alexander Platt, with vocalists from the Steans Music Institute and three poet-readers from the Poetry Foundation.
Miriam Fried and friends perform Beethoven and Brahms
July 22, 2019
Violinist Miriam Fried headlines this June 27, 2019 Ravinia Festival live recording of chamber music by Brahms and Beethoven. Miriam Fried, violin Pamela Frank, violin Kim Kashkashian, viola Paul Biss, viola Marcy Rosen, cello Gilbert Kalish, piano
Stile Antico — “Queen of Muses”
July 15, 2019
Stile Antico, one of the world’s leading vocal ensembles, presents an imaginative program of sacred and secular choral music from Tudor England, recorded live at Ravinia Festival on June 18.
Juilliard String Quartet
July 8, 2019
Recorded live from Martin Theatre on June 19, the Juilliard String Quartet performs works by Beethoven, Dvořák, and Lembit Beecher.
Lincoln Trio
July 1, 2019
WFMT’s broadcast season from Ravinia opens with the music of Haydn, Beethoven, and Patrick Zimmerli in this recital by the Lincoln Trio, which was recorded live from Bennett Gordon Hall on June 15.
Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway
October 29, 2018
Sir James Galway and Lady Jeanne Galway perform classical flute repertoire and are joined by pianist Christopher O’Riley.
Peter Serkin
September 24, 2018
Join host Kerry Frumkin for the final Ravinia Festival broadcast of 2018. Pianist Peter Serkin shares works of Mozart and Schumann in a program recorded live at the Martin Theatre on September 5, 2018. Serkin also performs Variations, Op. 24, in honor of composer Oliver Knussen, who passed away earlier this year.
Pacifica Quartet
September 17, 2018
The Grammy-winning string ensemble shares a program of Haydn, Bartók, and Mendelssohn recorded in concert in Ravinia’s Bennett Gordon Hall on August 25, 2018.
Chanticleer — Then and There, Here and Now
September 10, 2018
Chanticleer, the acclaimed men’s vocal ensemble, performs an eclectic program of works the Renaissance all the way up to today. Featuring works by a wide variety of composers, including Byrd, Richard Strauss, Gershwin, and Steven Sametz, hear this varied performance, which was recorded live at Ravinia Festival on July 31, 2018.
Jorge Federico Osorio
September 3, 2018
Hear celebrated pianist Jorge Federico Osorio share a diverse program overflowing with pieces, including works of Bach, Albéniz, Ponce, and Debussy.
Late Night with Leonard Bernstein
August 27, 2018
Late Night with Leonard Bernstein is a portrait of the composer written and hosted by his daughter, Jamie, and co-written by a protégé, George Steel. It features music dear to the Maestro and stories providing a very personal view of this great American icon. It was recorded on the stage of Ravinia’s Martin Theater the evening of July 27, 2018.
Leon Fleisher — A master hand at Bach, Mozart, and more
August 20, 2018
Accomplished pianist Leon Fleisher is joined by Katherine Jacobson Fleisher, piano; the Argus Quartet; and Kit Polen, double bass in this celebratory performance honoring Fleisher’s 90th birthday. Works by Bach, Mozart, and more.
Takács Quartet — Mozart and Dvořák
August 13, 2018
Takács Quartet, the celebrated string ensemble, performs string quartets composed by Mozart and Dvořák in this performance recorded live at the Martin Theatre on July 30, 2018.
