Symphony in the Flint Hills

What a magical evening we had on Saturday!  Joel and I had been looking forward to Symphony in the Flint Hills since we purchased our tickets back in March.  Each summer, the Kansas City Philharmonics presents an outdoor concert for over five thousand attendees at a different location in the Flint Hills of Kansas, and each year the concert reflects the heritage of that particular location.  One year, a cattle drive was incorporated into the concert.

This year, Fort Riley was selected, because the fort is celebrating 160 years of military history. Who knew people could actually tour Fort Riley?  We didn't.  Although we didn't make time to tour the first capitol of Kansas, the Custer house (where General Custer was believed to have lived), or the museum, we were treated to a lovely walk through streets lined with historic officers' homes, all built with native limestone.  

Of course, the symphony itself was spectacular, which included music from Copland, Dvorak, and other selection that I recognized from Bugs Bunny cartoons.  ;)

The forecast for that day included rain and the possibility of thunderstorms, so we were very thankful we had an almost ideal evening to enjoy the music and surroundings.  

Dale, Jayne, and Rachel

Barbara and Harlan

Our view of the band shell and orchestra as the sun set

The cavalry on parade

If this wasn't actually General Custer's house, he would have lived in one similar to it.

Not bad living for an army officer!