August sails in with cool offerings of music and theater

As summer music is reaching its peak, the following is a look both forward and back to some of the best in Chicago music and theater.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia: The CSO opened its 87th season at the Ravinia Festival. Marin Alsop leads the orchestra and CSO Chorus with a unique presentation of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

After the first movement, an African drums ensemble played for a short period, and after the second, a jazz trio also played for a short while. Both groups played well, and the jazz group (saxophonist Jim Gailloreto, guitarist Mike Allemana, and bassist Christian Dillingham) got into an incredibly relaxed vibe. Members of the audience applauded after these excerpts, and since the orchestra immediately returned to Beethoven, the applause drowned out some precious moments.

Another change was replacing Schiller's famous German poem "Ode to Joy" with an English-language piece by former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith. The vocal quartet was excellent—soprano Janai Bruggher, mezzo-soprano Ashley Dixon, tenor Paul Appleby, and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green). For this listener, this change worked best of all.

The Beethoven was not as precise as some CSO performances of the Ninth, nor with some of the inner detail, but it had a nice propulsive flow and some fine moments. The Chorus was resounding and exciting. One can't help but credit the creativity in programming and willingness to think new.

This writer has heard the CSO perform the Mahler Fifth Symphony under famed conductors, including Abbado, Leinsdorf, Conlon, and on two occasions, Solti. Alsop's Wednesday evening concert showed why it is a true CSO specialty: rich, full-throated, and virtuosic. The opening Mahler "Blumine" ("Flowers') was gorgeous, and the four songs by Alma Schindler Mahler, with mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, were simply beautiful. Overall, it was the best Alsop concert I have heard yet.

August treats at Ravinia should include Alsop conducting the XSO in Mozart's "The Magic Flute" with an all-star cast Aug. 4 and 6. Visit Ravinia.org

Grant Park Music Festival: Some outstanding soloists and guest conductors are gracing the superb work of the Grant Park Symphony this summer. Valentina Peleggi expressively conducted perhaps the best new piece of the season so far: "Umoja," a 10-minute work by Valerie Coleman. Then the hands of pianist Steward Goodyear became a blur as he made a feast of the Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 2 before a rousing Tchaikovsky 4th brought the evening to a close.

French conductor Ludovic Morlot joined violinist Tai Murray for Wynton Marsalis's fascinating Violin Concerto, and the Chorus was then resplendent in Mozart's "Ave verum corpus," Faure's "Cantique de Jean Racine," and Poulenc's irresistible "Gloria."

The tall thin young conductor Kevin John Edusei led Anna Clyne's frenetic, ever-changing "Midnight Hour," then joined pianist Joyce Yang, stunning in a red gown, to win a standing ovation for all for Liszt's "Totentanz." Prokofiev's Suite from "Romeo and Juliet" was alternately searing, stately, and tender.

The series continues Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:30 and Saturdays at 7:30, free at Lakefront Millennium Park through August 19. Visit grantparkmusicfestival.com

Broadway in Chicago presents for one week only Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" in a new play by Aaron Sorkin, directed by Bartlett Sher, Aug. 8-13 at CIBC Theater, 18 W. Monroe. Visit tokillamockingbirdbroadway.com

Mercury Theater is shaking with the great fun of "Rock of Ages," the Tony-nominated show featuring hits from Pat Benatar, REO Speedwagon, and more. Playing through September 10 at Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport. (773) 360-7365 or visit mercuytheaterchicago.com