There was a capacity crowd at the concert.
HIGHLAND PARK – Whether it was friends on the lawn or pavilion patrons jumping out of their seats, most of the crowd made Diana Ross’s Ravinia Festival debut on July 27 a participatory affair.
Ross performed the Motown tunes that began her career more than 50 years ago along with later music, as most of the capacity crowd moved to the rhythm.
“We had to see her,” said Cindy Clamage of Highland Park, who was there with a group of friends for a picnic and music. “This was the music of our youth in the 1970s. It’s what we danced to.”
“We grew up with this music,” added Wendy Klepper of Highland Park, a member of the same group as Clamage.
After her first two songs, Ross broke into “More Today Than Yesterday” and the crowd in the pavilion stood and danced to the beat by their seats. By the time she sang the words, “Oh baby love, my baby love,” few were sitting.
“It was terrific,” said Merle Styer of Highland Park. “Diana Ross was great to see. It was electric for everyone inside and outside.”
The audience got into the act vocally with the next song, “Stop! In the Name of Love,” as the crowd went from dancing to singing along too. Each time Ross was ready to utter the word, “stop,” everyone seemed to know when to chime in.
“It was great to hear all the songs and know all the words,” said Bette Feinerman of Highland Park. “It gets you up and (brings back) happy memories of your younger days.”
The crowd sing-a-long intensified with Diana Ross’s 12th song, “Inside Out.” Each time she got to the chorus the audience was ready, singing “upside down, inside out.”
Feinerman also called the band “terrific.” The ensemble had two drummers, three guitarists, a man playing saxophone, three backup singers and a man on keyboard.
After Rhonda Ross, Diana Ross’s daughter, got the crowd going with a 20-minute opening act, Diana Ross came on stage singing 20 consecutive turns without an intermission break.
Diana Ross made her Ravinia debut July 27 in Highland Park. Photo courtesy of Ravinia Festival.
Shortly after Rhonda Ross and her band left, music came from behind a curtain with only the musicians’ silhouettes showing. The curtain literally dropped to the floor as Ross came on stage in her first of three costumes.
“I loved the dresses, especially the blue one,” Styer said.
“The clothing was amazing,” Feinerman added.
Dianna Ross left the stage briefly to change while the band kept playing. She returned each time breaking into another song. The sequins on her second dress resembled star designs on the black screen behind her.
One concertgoer, Andy Smiltneek, came from Neenah, Wis., with his wife to hear Diana Ross for the second time.
“I saw Diana Ross in 1971 and we came back to see her again,” Smiltneek said. “She’s just raw energy. I first remember her as Diana Ross and the Supremes,” he added referring to Ross’s original group.
Clamage was part of a group of women who arrived early with a picnic to secure a spot near one of the walkways.
“We ran in when the gate opened,” said Sherri Schmidt of Wilmette, another member of the group.
The evening was excellent but not perfect, according to Styer and Feinerman. Feinerman said she wished Ross had talked to the audience a little as other artists often do and Styer was critical of the audio transmission.
“The sound system at Ravinia could be better,” Styer said. “I don’t know if the band was too loud but it was hard to hear her. It might depend on where the speakers are.” Styer said friends sitting closer to the stage did not share the same experience.
Getting their picnic in order are Evanston residents (from left) Debra O’Brien, Walter Willis and Yvonne Moore.