Fantasia at Ravinia July 12 at 7 pm

Ravinia is the oldest outdoor musical festival in the US.  It's been going since 1904, and each year it attracts nearly 600,000 visitors to listen to world-class music.  My wife has been raving about Ravinia since I've known her.  Now that we live in Chicago, a trip to Ravinia has become a must.  So on Sunday our family is off to Highland Park for our first trip there, an afternoon of fun, music, and Disney.

Fantasia & Fantasia 2000 available on
Amazon.com

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra will play the soundtrack for Walt Disney's classic movie Fantasia, and sections of Fantasia 2000. (which was a continuation of Fantasia, with the idea of giving more classical music the Disney Fantasia treatment)

The history of Fantasia is pretty fascinating and covered thoroughly (along with the CSO connection to Fantasia 2000) on the Ravinia blog.

We've got lawn tickets, which means that we'll be bringing a blanket and some chairs, as well as picnic stuff.  (according to the Ravinia Firsttimers guide, photographic/video equipment is NOT ALLOWED inside Ravinia, so don't bring your expensive cameras.)  There are restaurants, bars, gift shops, and other shopping available at Ravinia, as well as chair rental.  There's also a Pavilion which is under cover.  You see, at Ravinia, the rain falls mainly on the plain. (sorry, I couldn't resist!)

At most concerts at Ravinia, the stage is not actually viewable from the Lawn, but there will be a lawn-screen for this concert. Ravinia also will have fun stuff for kids to do on the North lawn, their "KidsLawn", with interactive exhibits, including a classic "instrument petting zoo." Sounds like a blast!

It's going to be an afternoon of lots of fun, and an evening of lots of great music.  Here's the program:

Disney’s Fantasia and Fantasia 2000
Beethoven:		Movement 1 from Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67   Movements 3–5 from Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68
Tchaikovsky:		The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a
Debussy (orch. Stokowski):		Clair de lune from Suite bergamasque
Stravinsky:		Suite from The Firebird (1919 version)
Ponchielli:		“Dance of the Hours” from La Gioconda
Dukas:		The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Elgar (adapt. Schickele):		Marches Nos. 1–4 from Pomp and Circumstance, Op. 39
Respighi:		Pines of Rome, P. 141

To find out more and purchase tickets for Fantasia, visit the Ravinia site online.

Ravinia has a number of other upcoming concerts suitable for families, including Laurie Berkner, the Ko-Thi Dance Company, and a production of  Beauty and the Beast.  See their kid's concert page.