2024 Ravinia Festival Opening Night: Celebration of Americana

We revisit last year’s opening night performance of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival, led by Marin Alsop, Chief Conductor of the Festival. This celebratory program of American music begins with Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring, followed by Johnson’s Charleston. Soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha then joins the orchestra for Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915. The evening concludes with Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, featuring pianist Michelle Cann.

Broadcast available through July 12, 2027

Smith (arr. Stock) The Star-Spangled Banner
Copland Suite from Appalachian Spring (full orchestra version)
Johnson (orch. Rimelis, arr. Hersh) Charleston
Barber Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24
Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha soprano
Gershwin (orch. Grofé) Rhapsody in Blue
ENCORE Johnson (ed. and arr. Hersh) Victory Stride
Michelle Cann piano
Marin Alsop conductor
July 2024

Ives (arr. Schuman) Variations on America
Morton Gould conductor
1966 (RCA)

Gould Spirituals for Orchestra
Morton Gould conductor
1965 (RCA)

Production
Brian Wise producer
Charlie Post & Mary Mazurek audio engineer
Lisa Simeone host
Cydne Gillard WFMT producer

Support for this production was provided by
Ravinia Festival
Jeffrey Haydon President & CEO 
Erik Soderstrom Senior Director of Programming
Hinano Price Director of Programming
Elizabeth Fildes Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Kyle Dunleavy Associate Creative Director of Media Production
Sam Amodeo
Rob Laseau
Kevin Reynolds
Bill Grzejka
Local 2 Stagehands

25-23

CSOradio
The CSOradio broadcast series brings unparalleled live performances to thousands of listeners weekly.

The nationally syndicated series features live concert performances by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, recorded in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, alongside selections from the orchestra’s expansive catalog of commercial recordings. Every program is designed to illustrate fascinating stories inside the music, as well as offering insights from the performers themselves.

Listen to complete shows and tune in weekly to WFMT-FM (98.7) at 8 p.m. (Central) each Sunday evening for the broadcast.