Arts & Entertainment
Tchaikovsky With a Bang
Ravinia makes overtures to encourage student attendance at CSO concerts.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) performed with a bang last Sunday at Ravinia in Highland Park. The weekend saw the return of the popular all-Tchaikovsky program that concludes with an ear-popping rendition of the 1812 Overture that featured live cannon fire.
The CSO is celebrating its 75th year in residency at Ravinia this summer. Conductor James Conlon led the musicians in renditions of several popular Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky numbers concluding with the iconic 1812 Overture.
Ravinia on Sunday also held its Cannon Ball 2011, a preconcert celebration featuring fun activities, free food and beverages, and chances to win prizes. The festivity is part of the organization's Classical Youth Initiative, an effort to bring in a younger crowd for classical performances.
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The event was the result of a collaboration between Ravinia and the Ravinia Student Advisory Board, a group 13 Highland Park High School students brought in to help figure out new ways to encourage youth to attend classic concert.
Aaron Lidawer, a member of the student group, said, "Ravinia really wanted to remind kids that classical is still cool. That's why we paired the teen night with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, because everybody knows it, it's in a lot of films you see. So everyone can appreciate it regardless of whether you're a classical head or not."
