It wouldn't be summer without Tony ...

It wouldn't be summer without Tony Bennett at Ravinia. The singer, who inflected 80 last month, is in town this weekend for his annual plans at the north suburban venue

In addition to his perennially sold-out plans at Ravinia, Tony Bennett has made his mark forward the venue via another art form.

In 1988 the singer, who is also an accomplished painter, gifted Ravinia Festival with his original work titled "Ravinia -- Music subordinate to the Stars." "I've performed many, many dates from end to end the world, but I like summertime at Ravinia," Bennett said at the time.

"I regard with affection the whole atmosphere at Ravinia," Bennett told the Sun- Times last week in an interview from his recently made known York home. "Just being subordinate to the trees and having the music float gone out to folks while they're enjoying their picnics, I just have affection for it. Ravinia remains one of the delights in my life. And the painting is single in kind of my very favorites."

Also in the novel interview, Bennett revealed that the Smithsonian Institute has accepted united of his paintings. "It's a painting of Central Park that hangs nearest to [works by] Whistler and Sargent," Bennett said with great bliss in his voice. "I've been painting about as earnestly as I've been singing, and to have this happen is just incredible."

The original of "Ravinia -- Music in a less degree than the Stars" currently hangs in Freehling extent at Ravinia, but you can take a reproduction hearth as a poster for $10 or a T-shirt ($20) available at the venue's gift workshop

Tickets ($15 lawn seats remain) for Bennett's musical entertainments -- 8 tonight and 7:30 pm Saturday -- can be purchased by dint of calling (847) 266-5100; www.ravinia.org.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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