

1812 Overture with cannons
Tchaikovsky Spectacular
CSO + Laura Jackson, conductor / Zlatomir Fung, cello
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DateAug 3, 2025
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VenuePavilion
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Donor Gates2:30 PM
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Public Gates3:00 PM
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Ticket Prices$15–$95
An order processing fee will be added to your cart at checkout.
3:00–4:30 p.m. at the KidsLawn space on the North Lawn
Join Reach Teach Play® for additional activities before today’s performance!
- Face painting artists
- “I Heart Ravinia” bracelet crafts
KidsLawn also features interactive, large-scale percussion instruments to bring out the kids’ creative energy!
Reserved Seat Ticket: $35–$95
Reserved Block Ticket: $45
Price per person; must reserve full block of 2, 4, or 6
General Admission Ticket: $15
Special pricing for guests ages 15 and under: More Info
Wintrust Chair & Table Rental Reservation
The Park View and Lawn Bar are open for dinner and drinks, and the Freehling Room is open to eligible Ravinia donors. Reservations are recommended for dinner.
The Tree Top Lounge is open with craft cocktails and more curated beverages, plus savory small bites.
Ravinia Market / Café and Concession Stands are open with hot food stations plus chilled grab-and-go, drinks, ice cream, and snacks.
Cashless: Cash will not be accepted at Dining Pavilion restaurants, bars, or concessions. Please bring a credit/debit card or other cashless forms of payment.
Know Before You Go
Getting to Ravinia: Parking, Rideshare & Train
$10 Parking • Park and Ride Open • Free Metra UP-N Train
Park in the West Parking Lot at 201 Ravinia Park Rd. The lot opens 1 hour before the listed “Public Gates” time.
Shuttles from the free Park and Ride lot in downtown Highland Park begin running 30 minutes before the listed “Public Gates” time.
Alert your driver: Uber, Lyft, and other car services must use one of the following parking lots to drop off and pick up guests.
- West Parking Lot (201 Ravinia Park Rd) — inbound access allowed up to 30 minutes before the end of the performance
- Braeside Train Station (10 N. St. Johns Ave) — ¼ mile walk from Ravinia
- Ravinia Train Station (680 St. Johns Ave) — ½ mile walk from Ravinia
- No drop-offs or pick-ups are allowed on public streets. If Highland Park Police or Ravinia staff redirect traffic, please follow those instructions.
Ride the Metra Union Pacific North Line train to and from our main entrance for free with your Ravinia ticket.
More Train Info
About the Performance
Ravinia is grateful for the support of
The Negaunee Foundation
Premier Sponsor
Tchaikovsky Spectacular Consortium
Renowned conductor and 2004 Taki Alsop Fellow Laura Jackson, Music Director of the Reno Philharmonic, returns to lead the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Ravinia’s 46th annual Tchaikovsky Spectacular.
A masterpiece of sweeping melodies and emotional intensity, Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony takes listeners on a powerful journey through the composer’s struggle with fate and the search for free will. Its dramatic contrasts and stirring themes explore the inner turmoil and eventual triumph of the human soul, making it a deeply moving and personal work.
The program continues with a performance by the extraordinary young cellist Zlatomir Fung, who takes center stage to perform Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations. This work, known for its refined elegance and charm, is brought to life through Fung’s impeccable technique and emotional nuance.
Concluding the evening is the electrifying 1812 Overture, one of Tchaikovsky’s most iconic and dramatic compositions. With its exhilarating rhythms, soaring orchestral melodies, and thunderous cannon blasts, the 1812 Overture leaves audiences in a state of awe and celebration.
Performers
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Laura Jackson, conductor
Zlatomir Fung, cello #
# Steans Institute alum
Program
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor, op. 36
–Intermission–
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme in A major, op. 33
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: 1812 Festival Overture, Op. 49