Ravinia 2026 Issue 3

HUNTERPAVILION 5:00 PM SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 , 2026 CHICAGO SYMPHONYORCHESTRA EARL LEE, conductor STELLA CHEN, violin TCHAIKOVSKY Polonaise from Eugene Onegin , op. TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto in D major, op. Allegro moderato Canzonetta: Andante [ attacca ] Finale: Allegro vivacissimo StellaChen – – TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture TCHAIKOVSKY Festival Overture, op. (with cannons) NAVY BAND GREAT LAKESWIND ENSEMBLE LT. DAVID HARBUZIUK , conductor Steans Institute alum Ravinia expresses its appreciation for the generous support of Premier Sponsor The Negaunee Foundation as well as the Tchaikovsky Spectacular Consortium . e Tchaikovsky Spectacular Consortium comprises an anonymous donor, Jane & David Casper, Betsy & Arthur Holden, and Mr. & Mrs. David R. Kahnweiler. Ravinia is proud to feature “Charlie’s Cannons” in tonight’s performance of the Overture. 3:30 PM, CAROUSEL STAGE PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893) Polonaise from Eugene Onegin , op. Scored for two utes and piccolo, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, timpani, percussion, harp, and strings Alexander Pushkin’s verse novel Yevgeny Onegin ( ) remains a national treasure, one of the most revered works in the Russian language. e prospect of a musical setting, an idea rst broached by contralto Yelizaveta Lavrovskaya on May , , both excited and intimidated Tchaikovsky. In elegant language and opulent detail, the novel depicts the discontent and boredom, love and rejection, and loss and de- spair rampant throughout the Russian country- side in the s. For this reason, it has been described as the “encyclopedia of Russian life.” Its characters build on literary/theatrical arche- types: an arrogant nobleman escaping the city, a young couple whose romantic passion hurtles them uncontrollably into tragedy, and an intelli- gent, naive, and vulnerable -year-old ingénue. While the novel masterly portrayed real life and the inner personalities of the characters, it lacked the intensity and action of other op- eratic subject matter. e composer’s brother Modest voiced his opposition. “Even if my op- era is not stage-worthy,” Tchaikovsky responded on June , “even if it has little action to o er, the point is that I am in love with the image of Tatyana; I am enchanted by Pushkin’s verses and am writing music to them because that’s what I want to do. I am completely absorbed in the composition of my opera.” Tchaikovsky very quickly developed the operat- ic scenario and, in consultation with the ama- teur artist and writer Vladimir Shilovsky ( – ), eshed out the storyline and created the libretto. Working in the relative seclusion of Shilovsky’s estate in the town of Glebovo outside Moscow, Tchaikovsky completed the entire Act One and portions of Act Two in approximately four weeks before returning to Moscow for his Alexander Pushkin RAVINIA.ORG • RAVINIAMAGAZINE 99