Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Review: Klaus Mäkelä’s Ravinia debut delivered sublime moments, signaled commitment

wbez.org · 2dShare

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra had a big night Thursday at the Ravinia Festival as Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä, set to take on his full duties in September 2027, made his debut at the outdoor series in Highland Park where the ensemble has summered since 1936. Appearances by CSO music directors at Ravinia are actually quite rare. Georg Solti and Riccardo Muti led the orchestra at other times but never while music director. And Daniel Barenboim made appearances in just two summers over his 1991-2006 tenure. That Mäkelä, 30, would carve time out of his stuffed international schedule for a pair of concerts at Ravinia shows that he obviously wants to do things his way. It also makes evident that he is committed to this orchestra and interested in connecting with suburban audiences, who might come downtown to Orchestra Hall only sporadically or not at all. Even better, he brought the same level of enthusiasm and intensity to this concert as does to his Orchestra Hall concerts — his

First report: Review: Klaus Mäkelä’s Ravinia debut delivered sublime moments, signaled commitment — suntimes.com, 3d