Ravinia 2019, Issue 4, Week 8

7:30 PM TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2019 PAVILION LYLE LOVETT AND HIS LARGE BAND Native Texan Lyle Lovett attended Texas A&M University, where he first began dabbling in music by performing covers and original songs at local folk festivals and clubs. He began his career as a songwriter, contributing “If I Were the Woman You Wanted” to Nanci Griffith’s 1984 album and ul- timately collaborating with her on the recording and its follow-up. Lovett signed his own recording contract and released his eponymous debut al- bum in 1986, with five singles charting on the country Top 40: “Farther Down the Line,” “God Will,” “Why I Don’t Know,” “Give Back My Heart” and the top-10 hit “Cowboy Man.” Aside from country influences, Lovett’s style displayed an eclectic mix of jazz, folk and pop as well, and his sec- ond album, Pontiac (1987), broadened his fan base with the singles “She’s No Lady” and “I Loved You Yesterday,” elevating the album to number 117 on the Billboard 200. For the tour in support of the album, he assembled his “Large Band” (a modified big band), with which he recorded another eponymous album (1989) that rose to a number-62 peak chart position. Lovett’s fourth album, Joshua Judges Ruth (1992), showed strong influences of gospel and R&B and charted up to number 57, further expanding beyond his country audience to gain a pop following. I Love Everybody (1994) built upon his growing pop sound, entering the charts at number 26, but this was soon eclipsed by The Road to Ensenada (1996), which recaptured his coun- try audience and entered that chart at number four while setting a career peak of number 24 on the pop chart. The wryly named It’s Not Big It’s Large appeared in 2007, and Lovett’s latest album, Release Me , fulfilled its titular imperative in 2012. In 2017, he was named a distinguished alumnus of Texas A&M. Lyle Lovett made his first appearance at Ravinia in 1995 and returns tonight for his 19th season. 7:30 PM WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2019 MARTIN THEATRE GARY HOFFMAN, cello JON KIMURA PARKER, piano DEBUSSY Sonata No. 1 for Cello and Piano Prologue Sérénade [ attacca ] Finale BRAHMS Cello Sonata No. 2 Allegro vivace Adagio affettuoso Allegro passionato Allegro molto –Intermission– FAURÉ Élégie RACHMANINOFF Cello Sonata Lento—Allegro moderato Allegro scherzando Andante Allegro mosso Ravinia expresses its appreciation for the generous support of Sponsor Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation . JULY 22 – JULY 28, 2019 | RAVINIA MAGAZINE 93