Ravinia Festival tickets now on sale

Forget the calendar. Summer runs from June 6 through Sept. 15 at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, with more than 120 events, including more than 80 festival debuts.

Festival celebrates the ‘sheer genius’ of Handel

In the panoply of Western classical music, George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), is among the greats, ranking beside J. S. Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. His output was vast, and his talent encompassed opera, song and oratorio, as well as instrumental works.

Downhome opera fires up a ‘Barbecu’

Picture Wagner’s “Ring Cycle” transplanted to Texas. Imagine five actors playing all 30 roles from a singing cowboy named Seigfried to a trio of triplets. Shows don’t get much sillier than “Das Barbecu.”

Last rodeo for Country Calendar concert

Attention old-time country music lovers: If you’ve ever been a fan of artist Heather McAdams’ annual Country Calendar and its accompanying blowout concert parties, don’t miss this year’s release celebration. It’s going to be the last one for the foreseeable future. The 2013 Country Calendar …

Supremes singer helps tell Lena Horne’s life story

If you know all there is to know about the great Lena Horne, or if you couldn’t pick her out of a lineup, a new show aims to teach everyone something about the dazzling singer. North Central College presents “Stormy Weather: The Lena Horne Project” …

Concert celebrates Dia de los Muertos

El Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a night of reflection and celebration in the Latin communities that dates back to the Aztecs. The Chicago Sinfonietta presents a concert dedicated to this theme at 8 p.m. Nov. 2 at North Central …

Orchestras tuning up for a busy season

Summer is winding down, but things are just warming up for area orchestras. Here is a look at the upcoming classical music season.

Chicago a cappella

opens its season with “Genius in the Synagogue: A Musical Portrait of Max Janowski,” with songs by the Chicago …

Ravinia extends classical concert season

Building on the success of the summer’s many classical concerts in Bennett Gordon Hall for $10 each, the Ravinia Festival is presenting eight programs in the 450-seat theater this season for that very attractive price.

Titled “BGH $10 classics,” the series runs October through April …

Hall & Oates bringing ‘rock ’n’ soul’ to Ravinia

Darryl Hall and John Oates, one of the most influential rock duos during the Reagan years, return to Ravinia on Sept. 1. Better known as Hall & Oates, the two men rocked the pop stage with their rock and R&B fusion throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s, en route to being named Billboard’s best duo of all time.

Piano virtuoso playing at Ravinia

“As I pianist, I feel we’re all so different,” said Barnatan, an Israeli-born piano virtuoso. “I never believed that if somebody is getting a concert, they’re getting a concert that could have been mine. Or vice versa. I feel like if you do what you believe in and if you’re good enough, there will be a spot for you.”