Last night the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) played an outdoor concert at Delaware Park over by the Buffalo Zoo. The War of 1812 Bicentennial Commemoration & Celebration Committee organized the free event with the help of a committee from the Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
It turned out to be the perfect night for such a showing mainly due to the beautiful weather, which was perfect for bringing a wagon filled with picnic goodies. For anyone who has never caught an outdoor showing by the BPO, it’s an opportunity that should not be missed. The orchestra does make a point to promote these free types of showings in order to expand its reach, so as to introduce people to a cultural asset that can sometimes be a bit removed from the public eye (due to its normally stationary setting that attracts a host of season ticket holders).
While most people who attended the performance either sat in the front rows of chairs or out on the lawn, photographer Joe Cascio snuck away to the promenade of Olmsted’s Gala Waters by the boathouse to wait for the grand finale. Joe picked the perfect vantage point to capture the scene, opting to shoot over the water in order to show the reflection off the water and the intimate viewing perspective of three onlookers.
No matter where you were positioned last night, there was no bad seat in the house. Watching the fireworks burst out over The Meadow (where the 300 soldiers are buried) was just as spectacular as the serene setting of Gala Waters. I’m not sure how the animals at The Zoo enjoyed the production, but everyone else sure seemed to appreciate the effort put in by the War of 1812 Bicentennial Commemoration & Celebration Committee.
^Photo: queenseyes