With a few pandemic precautions, Ravinia announces return of concerts this summer

The Ravinia Festival on Tuesday announced it will reopen in July with a slate of outdoor concerts including a six-week residency by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Festival organizers noted that all concerts will take place in the pavilion with reduced seating capacity to adhere to state and local health official guidelines amid the pandemic. All seating will incorporate reserve-in-advance ticketing and social distancing in the pavilion, lawn and dining facilities. In addition, the number of artists on stage will be reduced to allow for social distancing between performers, Tuesday’s announcement stated.

Conductor Marin Alsop will lead seven concerts by the CSO in her first season as Ravinia’s chief conductor and curator.

“Ravinia believes that music and the arts are an essential part of the personal, artistic and economic recovery from this past year. Our 36 acres of outdoor space provide the perfect setting for a healthy and inspiring experience for all of our guests,” said newly appointed Ravinia president and CEO Jeff Haydon. “The experience will be a little different than in the past, but our science-based approach to carefully reopening the park puts safeguards in place so that audiences can again enjoy live performances.”

The full lineup of summer concerts will be announced in April along with protocols for attendance.

Ravinia canceled its entire 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and closed the park for the first time since the Great Depression. It remains the oldest outdoor musical festival in the country.