Happy Birthday, Ravinia!

“The New York Philharmonic is heading to Chicago’s Ravinia Festival for one night — Wednesday, July 21, 2004. While it may seem like just a whistle stop for the New York musicians, it is an historical note for the Festival, which began life in 1904 as an amusement park intended to lure riders to the fledgling Chicago & Milwaukee Electric Railroad.

Ravinia, now the oldest outdoor music festival in North America, is celebrating “100 starry years” with “100 starry nights” — its most ambitious season ever — and as the New York Philharmonic was the first symphony orchestra to perform there, back in 1905 under Walter Damrosch (and every summer until 1910), it is a welcome, celebratory return.

Course Changed Forever
“The first piece of music performed at Ravinia was ‘Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home’ on a steamy calliope,” says Ravinia Festival President and CEO Welz Kauffman. “But the very next year, the New York Philharmonic performed here, and changed our course forever. We couldn’t celebrate our centennial without a return visit by the inimitable orchestra that started it all.”

Happy Birthday, Ravinia!”

“What ever you say Nowslimmer.. ; ) BD Ravinia!!!”

“Happy BD Ravinia..that is..”

“Cool --


A repeat performance after only 94 years? I hope they don't wear out their welcome! <G>”

“The Ravinia has never lacked for good music. It was always a great spot for a summer evening, especially, with a date.

Of course, there were the free, bandshell concerts in Grant Park between downtown Chicago(the Loop) and Lake Michigan.

New York has similar events, too, and so do many communities. These are great alternatives to KidRock!”

“Kid Shlock!”

“A Prairie Home Companion

AUGUST 14, 2004 - "We're helping Chicago celebrate its 100th annual Ravinia Festival with a live broadcast from the Ravinia Park Pavilion."”

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"Meet You At Ravinia
Listen to our next broadcast: Saturday, June 18, 2005

This weekend we're broadcasting live from the Ravinia Festival 2005 in Highland Park, Illinois. There'll be a lot of powerful female vocalists there with us: The Mila Vocal Ensemble, The Ditty Bops, our good friend Prudence Johnson. Plus, Howard Levy on harmonica, Andy Stein on violin, Garrison Keillor with the News From Lake Wobegon, and more. Join us."

You Chicago Area people are so lucky.
last edited: 6/17/05 2:53:03 PM”