Mystic Chords of Memory kicked off on September 7 with our Celebration of Music Day, a free all-day event that features music, games, rides, special performances on the grounds and in all of our venues. We held a press conference with Abraham Lincoln, moderated by Eric Zorn of the Chicago Tribune, and had an Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd impersonator strolling throughout the park all day. Approximately 8,000 people visited the park that day.
In January 2008, Ravinia issued a challenge to composers to capture the spirit of the great statesman in the form of new piano trios—a genre that came into prominence in Lincoln’s lifetime—inspired by the words of the 16th president. There were three winning compositions and all invoke a spoken text format with music. The aptly named Lincoln Trio is serving as Ravinia’s trio in residence, performing the winning compositions plus some of Lincoln’s favorite music, at venues throughout the state. Well over 10,000 people will have been exposed to these performances.
We are now heading into our summer season which will feature three concerts specifically under the banner of Mystic Chords of Memory – June 12 - a new Ramsey Lewis commission that will pay tribute to Lincoln in Jazz, vocals and written word; July 18 Women’s Board Gala featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, narrated by special guest Jessye Norman; and the premiere of the Ravinia commission of Bill T. Jones’ Fondly Do We Hope...Fervently Do We Pray, a full evening dance performance based on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. We anticipate a total of at least 18,000 people will attend these performances.
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Mixing music with history is a natural connection because art is a part of our past, present and hopeful future. To that note, I wanted to give some of today's artists a chance to present their expressions of Lincoln's life and words through new music and dance compositions. I've been thrilled with the response from our audiences who've seen previews of the work so far who claim to feel a deep spiritual connection to these new works. I've been amazed especially by the response from the artists themselves, people like Bill T. Jones and Ramsey Lewis, who say their work for Ravinia has become career-changing. We're using history to make history. Ravinia could not do this important work without support from funders like the Tawani Foundation.
