Ravinia 2026 Issue 2

HUNTERPAVILION 7:30 PM SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 , 2026 CHICAGO SYMPHONYORCHESTRA MARIN ALSOP, conductor EMANUEL AX, piano ADAMS Short Ride in a Fast Machine WILLIAMS Concerto for Piano and Orchestra ° Introduction—Colloquy Listening Finale: Presto EmanuelAx RACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances , op. Non allegro Andante con moto (Tempo di valse) Lento assai—Allegro vivace . ° Midwest premiere Ravinia expresses its appreciation for the generous support of Premier Sponsor The Negaunee Foundation . JOHNADAMS (b. 1947) Short Ride in a Fast Machine Scored for two utes and two piccolos, two oboes and English horns, four clarinets (two are optional), three bassoons and contrabassoon, four horns, four trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, three woods blocks, pedal bass drum, large bass drum, suspended cymbal, sizzle cymbal, large tam-tam, tambourine, triangle, glockenspiel, xylophone, crotales, two synthesizers, and strings John Adams was born in Worcester, MA, but raised in Concord, NH (“nerve central of the presidential primary campaigns”). A er receiv- ing two degrees from Harvard University, he relocated to the West Coast in and began teaching and conducting at the San Francisco Conservatory. Between and , Adams served as new music advisor and compos- er-in-residence for the San Francisco Sympho- ny. His innovative “New and Unusual Music” series garnered critical acclaim in the Bay Area and beyond. Adams also has been creative chair of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra ( – ), music director of the Ojai Festival ( ), Rich- ard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair at Car- negie Hall ( – ), and, since , the John and Samantha Williams Creative Chair with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. A widely acclaimed composer, conductor, and spokesman for contemporary music, Adams is recipient of the Grawemeyer Award for his Violin Concerto and the Pulitzer Prize for LAURIE BERKNER While Laurie Berkner never planned to be a children’s performer, looking back on her career it almost seems inevitable. While growing up in Princeton, NJ, Berkner was always involved in music, whether singing in choirs, playing in bands, or performing in musical theater. In high school and throughout college (at Rutgers Uni- versity), she toured Europe with several choirs and orchestras as a soloist and guitarist. A er graduation, Berkner spent several years as a children’s music specialist at New York–area preschool and day care centers before becoming a professional musician in . She maintains a busy touring schedule and has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the White House, among many venues. Berkner was the rst recording artist ever to perform in music videos on Nick Jr. and was a frequent presence on the network’s Jack’s BigMusic Show series. Her music videos now appear regularly on Sprout House and e Laurie Berkner Band’s YouTube channel, and she is o en featured on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live . In , she created a -chapter Audible Original Series titled Laurie Berkner’s Song and Story Kitchen . Berkner has released bestselling, award-winning albums: Whaddaya ink of at ( ), Buzz Buzz ( ), Victor Vito ( ), Under a Shady Tree ( ), Rocket- ship Run ( ), e Best of e Laurie Berkner Band ( ), A Laurie Berkner Christmas ( ), Laurie Berkner Lullabies ( ), e Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection ( ), Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids’ Songs ( ), Su- perhero ( ), and Laurie Berkner: e Dance Remixes ( ). She has also released seven dig- ital collections of her songs: Laurie Berkner’s Food Songs , Laurie Berkner’s Animal Songs , Laurie Berkner’s Transportation Songs , Laurie Berkner’s Classroom Favorites , Laurie Berkner’s Movement Songs , Laurie Berkner’s Nature Songs , and Love . Berkner recently authored three pic- ture books for Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, each based on one of her be- loved songs— We Are the Dinosaurs , Pillowland , and Monster Boogie —having previously written two Barnes & Noble Nook Kids e-books. Laurie Berkner rst played at Ravinia in , and this is her th season at the festival. RAVINIA.ORG • RAVINIAMAGAZINE 93