THE SOUND OF MUSIC

The Sound of Music

Stonehilltheatricalfoundation.org and postclassical.com

David Taylor on bass trombone.

Angel Gil-Ordóñez, co-founder, conductor and musical director.

In the heart of the amphitheater. Composer Daniel Schnyder on saxophone (soprano sax) with Ali Cook behind on double bass.

Flint Hill is alive with the sound of music.

PHOTOS BY THOMAS WOLFF

Flint Hill, Virginia is deep in the heart of Rappahannock County. The rippling ribbon roads twist and turn past farms and homes a bit more than 15 miles outside of Marshall on Crest Hill Road/Rt. 647. Don’t blink or you might miss the petite clue on the right at 40 Springwish Lane.

And voilà, you’ve now arrived at a magical musical place known as the Stone Hill Theatrical Foundation. This is where owner John B. Henry spent seven-plus years creating a breathtaking stone amphitheater that rivals any such place, anywhere.

Just as folks could start to go out and about, maybe even minus the masks, the hillside at Stone Hill was sprinkled with devoted music aficionados eager to hear Stravinsky’s 1918 “L’Histoire du Soldat” presented by The PostClassical Ensemble led by conductor Angel Gil-Ordóñez. The sound of music reverberated magically for what the group defines as programming that aims to tell stories—exploring the role of music in its cultural and historical context. Philip Kennicott was among those stretched out on the hillside. The Washington Post Pulitzer Prize winner has noted this is “one of the country’s most innovative music groups.”