The yearning and often need to get back to nature and get in harmony with one's inner soul is much of the appeal of river rafting trips. The raft, an oar, a tent and gourmet food plus miles of river and scenic beauty and the natural song of nature singing to you. While traditional raft trips have relied on the laws of nature to stage blending the "call of the Wild" with some classical refinements. The sounds become richer and more complex, a symphony of nature and mankind, blending in perfect harmony.
A contrast of cultures? Not for the river and classical music enthusiasts participating on Bill Dvorak's Rafting Expedition's Annual Classical Music Green River Journey. Each morning, as heads pop out from tents pitched alongside a river bank, the smell of coffee brewing in the air seems to be the perfect blend with a splash of Mozart, Beethoven or Ravel, as members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic warm-up for the eight day musical river journey down Desolation and Gray Canyons.
In keeping with the mood and sounds of each day's magical journey, mixed with a little "river magic," the dining experience further enhances the trips' ability to satiate the soul. Come evening, a tray of hors d'oeuvres and wine begin the evening's gastronomic feast, followed by a dinner of Blackened Salmon, special salads and Black Forest Cake for dessert - a mere sampling of the river delicacies prepared each day. "This trip is pampered, if not the most memorable sophisticated adventure you ever take," said Dvorak.A fifth generation cousin of the famous composer, Anton Dvorak, Bill Dvorak has been running rivers commercially longer than anyone else in Colorado.
Guests join four to five members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic on a seven to eight day journey of Bach, Beethoven, Ravel and the company's namesake, Dvorak. Four or more concerts are scheduled throughout the week-long tour, including a formal concert near the conclusion of the tour. The concert halls are the acoustically rich stages of the slickrock canyons and caverns located along each river, or an open-air stage nestled among Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. The trips are leisurely, allowing ample time to soak up the sun, read, float along the river and listen to daily practice sessions. In addition to the rafting and music, each trip includes side excursions to Anasazi ruins, wildlife viewing, hiking and impromptu land and river musical performances.