Ravinia Announces Schedule, Area Wineries Rejoice

By Justin Sondak in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 8, 2007 9:32PM

The Ravinia Festival summer schedule has been released, a consolation prize for those of us who couldn’t score cheap Lollapalooza passes. Online ticket sales begin April 19 and won’t require multiple browser windows and copious amounts of prayer.

True to form, the 2007 schedule offers much to satisfy the 45-55 year old demographic: the Beach Boys, Doobie Brothers, Steve Miller, and that ABBA tribute band return. Programmers share Perry Farrell’s fondness for the 90s, booking Lyle Lovett and k.d. lang (June 29-30), Joan Osbourne (August 28-29, with B.B. King), the Bodeans (again!, June 9) and Hootie and the Blowfish (August 15, who knew they were still around?).

Once again, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is summering on the North Shore, playing a dozen shows including a contribution to the One Score, One Chicago series. This year’s score is Robert Schumann’s tender Scenes from Childhood, the first piano piece to be so designated. This summer’s overtures to theater nerds include the return of Garrison Keillor’s droning hypnosis act (a.k.a. A Prairie Home Companion, June 16) and a concert version of Madama Butterfly (August 11). And for some unintentional drama, the Sun Times points out the likelihood of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s late June engagement coinciding with an expected swarm of cicadas.

Our tongue’s been firmly in cheek for this post, but we do get up to Highland Park each summer for the tunes and fancy picnicking, and we sincerely are looking forward to Seu Jorge’s North Shore debut (June 17), Nickel Creek’s hip bluegrass (August 10), and the return of living legend Placido Domingo (August 4, a benefit concert, so it ain’t cheap).

And since Ravinia fans and programmers have a healthy sense of humor, we leave you with Mark Bazer’s take on the summer tradition: