Symphony in the Flint Hills cut short as severe weather loomed

The theme of the 2022 Symphony in the Flint Hills Signature Event was, ironically, “Weather in the Flint Hills.” It had been three years since we had last been to the Symphony concert out on the Kansas prairie, and we were so eager to go again. Apparently, so were the more than 7,000 others in attendance.

Irma’s Pasture, just west of Bazaar in Chase County, was the scene, and the prairie grasses couldn’t have been any more green or more beautiful. But on a hot, 90-degree day with humidity also hovering around the 90-percent mark, everyone was just happy for the blessing of a steady breeze.

Presentations in the appropriately-named Sunflower, Purple Coneflower, and Butterfly Milkweed tents were keyed to the Weather in the Flint Hills theme. There are so many things to see and do; a person really can’t begin to take it all in, so you have to pick and choose.

This was our fifth concert on the prairie, and it just can’t be beat. It is so well-organized — all of us as ticketholders have no idea what all goes on during the week or so prior to the concert, but to look out across the setup, the logistics are mind-boggling. Figuring out the lay of the land, where vehicles will be parked, lining up hundreds of volunteers to take care of so many details of getting vehicles in and lined up, then getting people in and moving the mob of people from place to place... it truly is a thing you just can’t even picture; you must experience it to even believe it.

Speaking of the land, Irma’s Pasture is the most ideal place for this concert because there is a large bowlshaped area of the pasture that is just perfect for the stage and “shell” that holds the orchestra. Then the crowd is camped out on the slope, and it totally resembles a huge concert hall. This year I noticed they added hand-railings in the center aisle, because it was quite a climb to reach the top.

In 2019, at this very sight, a microburst canceled the event the night before. Nearly all of the tents were completely ruined. There was no event in 2020 due to COVID, and last year, they planned a very low-key event, bringing out only a string ensemble rather than the entire orchestra.

So this year, we and more than 7,000 friends were so eager to get back and enjoy a beautiful evening. After we had eaten a delicious BBQ meal, the crowd en masse moved toward the concert site. And finally, the concert began. Two massive speakers hanging from long-arm booms deliver an amazing concert-hall quality.

As the Symphony captivated the audience with the meditative beauty of their second number, Claude Debussy’s “Clouds,” actual clouds began to roll in from the north across the prairie. Outriders ambled south across the brilliant green hills behind the stage to the haunting strains of Minhye Helena Choi’s violin. Max Richter’s minimalist rendering of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons ‘Summer’” movements provided a perfect accompaniment to the cowboys driving frisky cattle back north across the pasture as more clouds appeared on the horizon.

Dave Kendall, familiar to many as the face of public television’s long-running “Sunflower Journeys” series, served as concert master of ceremonies for the tenth year. Just before “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was to be performed, Kendall took to the stage to announce the concert cancellation, due to weather concerns.

Symphony in the Flint Hills issued a formal statement confirming the cancellation. “During this evening’s sunset concert, our on-site meteorologist determined the threat of severe weather in the area would exceed the threshold of safety for our guests. At that time, we made the decision to clear the site and get people to their cars as safely and efficiently as possible. We appreciate everyone’s patience, cooperation and understanding.”

We take a chance in buying the $100 tickets, traveling the distance, securing a motel room, buying several meals and a $20 per person barbecue meal for supper on site, plus beverages. And when it all works out, when the weather cooperates and and the orchestra gets to perform the complete concert, it is a fantastic experience and well worth the expense. This year, it was disappointing to not get even the first half of the concert and to not hear “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” but it was still worth the expense. There is absolutely nothing to compare it with.

So as the huge crowd calmly made the trek across the prairie hills under an ever-changing summer sky, with lightning and thunder and ominous clouds heading our way, many joined in singing “Home on the Range,” the traditional final song.

You know, it is what you make it. And it was awesome.