Ravinia 2025 Issue 6

Haymarket Opera Company resolutely revitalizes bewitching early music theater BYKYLEMACMILLAN The soprano is a Ravinia regular, having appeared at the festival nine times, starting in 2002 with an all-Gershwin concert alongside the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. [At the time, it was also her first season in the Lyric Opera’s apprentice artist program.] She since been featured in a concert performance of The Marriage of Figaro and several recitals, as well as a high-profile 2015 program that featured extensive high- lights from Porgy and Bess , starring alongside actor and singer Brian Stokes Mitchell. ¶ Jeffrey Haydon, Ravinia’s president and CEO, has watched Haymarket’s ascent in recent years and heard positive reports about it from guests and industry insiders, and he said the company’s 15th anniversary this year seemed an ideal time to showcase the rising company. ¶ “We have international-caliber groups in Chicago,” he said, “and I want to make sure that we are thoughtful about presenting them—not only presenting them to our audiences, but giving them the opportunity to have Ravinia performances they can accredit them- selves with to the world beyond Chicago.” ¶ Although this presentation is Haymarket’s first at Ravinia, the company is continuing a long tradition of concert opera at the festival that was first renewed in 1954 with the CSO’s performance of Gounod’s Faust . Opera has been a feature of virtually every season in recent years with Marin Alsop and James Conlon, respectively the festival’s current and past leading artistic part- ners. ¶ Difficulties in scheduling did not allow the CSO to present a concert opera this year, opening an opportunity for Haymarket to fill the void and also continue Ravinia’s classical offerings after the orchestra’s six-week residency comes to a close on August 17. “Everything fell into place perfectly to do this,” Haydon said. RAVINIA.ORG  • RAVINIAMAGAZINE 11 ELLIOTMANDEL