Ashley Brown, Nathan Gunn, Patti LuPone, Idina Menzel, Michael York Set for Ravinia Festival’s 2012 Season

Ravinia Festival has announced details for its 2012 season. Among the highlights is a July 21 gala benefit celebrating the Women’s Board of Ravinia’s 50th anniversary, with performances by Patti LuPone and Patricia Racette.

Broadway’s Ashley Brown will be the featured vocalist in a July 4 concert, conducted by Steven Reineke. As previously reported, Idina Menzel will perform in concert on July 8, conducted by Marvin Hamlisch. Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi will perform as The Blues Brothers on July 11. Barbara Cook will celebrate her 85th birthday with a concert on July 15, conducted by Richard Kaufman.

Richard Croft, Morris Robinson, Nathan Gunn, Michael York and Susanna Philips will be among the performers in repertory productions of Mozart’s operas, The Magic Flute and Idomeneo, conducted by James Conlon in August.

The recital and chamber concert lineup will include Philip Glass celebrating his 75th birthday with Timothy Fain (June 23); Midori performing Bach’s complete Violin Sonatas and Partitas (July 3 and 5); and Kiri Te Kanawa in a solo recital (August 14).

There will be four tribute concerts, including Nnenna Freelon singing the songs of Lena Horne (June 22); Stephanie Blythe honoring Kate Smith (July 2); Ann Hampton Callaway and John Pizzarelli paying tribute to Harold Arlen (August 5); and Arlo Guthrie and Mary Chapin Carpenter celebrating Woody Guthrie’s centennial (August 19).

Among the other artists participating in the festival are Joshua Bell, Tony Bennett, Glen Campbell, Duran Duran, Donald Fagen, Al Green, Garrison Keillor, Diana Krall, Yo-Yo Ma, Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers, Michael McDonald, Sarah McLachlan, Sergio Mendes, Natalie Merchant, Ronnie Milsap, Momix, Itzhak Perlma,n Boz Scaggs, Esperanza Spalding, James Taylor, and Dawn Upshaw.

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