Highly Recommended ***** I hear music with no instruments ! That’s what you will be saying within minutes of hearing this amazing a cappella ensemble known as PENTATONIX.
A cappella music is specifically group or solo singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It contrasts with cantata, which is usually accompanied singing. Wikipedia
For those of you unfamiliar with Penatonix, they are THE A Cappella group!
What started on a reality TV show “The Sing-Off” and was geared ONLY for a cappella groups. In 2013, they were declared the victors, but truly never deamed that they would hit the heights they have achieved. What is truly crazy is that they came together on the eve of the TV show. Fate played a hand in this one.
Tonight they truly rocked Ravina and thanks to the new Lawn Screen, the entire lawn area was able to also see these five performers do their thing as well as the powerful videos that are part of the show, that is a well choreographed evening of entertainment.
The evening began with Rachel Platton ( who also joined them to do her country western part in one of their numbers. Platton did 45 minutes of music and got the audience in a solid mood for 
the main attraction. Her “Fight Song” was the perfect song to lead us into intermission. While she is good, most of those who were either dining on the lawn or in one of the many restaurants on the grounds, were waiting for the main attraction, Pentatonix, and they got what they were waiting for!
This ensemble that got together for a sort of game show they have come a long way. Kevin Olusola, a musical prodigy, who can play several instruments, with great ease, brings to audiences, along with his 4 co-horts a specil sound. Each of these performers relies on the others to complete the sound they create. If one thinks about a circus performer who relies on the “catcher” to complete the trapeze act or the “silks”, one can visualize the dependency factor that could mean life or death. In singing, not so much the life and death, but the sound being complete is dependent on each of these five magnificent voices blending to perfection. For almost two hours tonight they did just that!
These five solid talents are a true “partnership” when it comes to the arrangements, selections and the performing. Each relies on the other to bring their audience the best of the best. They are a pop-vocal group and thrive on seasonal music as well as standards.
They sang snippets of all of their songs of the past and a great rendition of “Sounds of Silence” and then a powerful “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Mitch Grassi has amazing range) . We were told of the finding of Kevin who is an extreme talent when it comes to “beat(box)ing” and we were treated to a special performance by him. WOW! He truly fits in with the others in the ensemble, soprano Kirstin Maldonado and baritone, Scott Hoying who along with Grassi and Olusola were the original group.
If this group returns to Ravinia for the 2020 season and I cannot think of any reason they should not) make sure this is one of the first tickets you purchase. Meanwhile, I suggest that you check them out on u-tube and buy their recordings. They are an experience that you will relish.
By the way, we met up with some good friends who were also there tonight and enjoyed a great dinner at The Lawn Café.
To keep up with Ravinia and the rest of the season, visit http://www,Ravinia.org
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