EPSO fills Plaza Theatre for powerful close to 95th season
The El Paso Symphony Orchestra closed its 95th season with a near-capacity crowd at the Plaza Theatre, featuring Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 and Orff’s Carmina Burana.
Nearly packed audience and young musicians highlight El Paso Symphony Orchestra’s final concert series featuring Mozart and Carmina Burana
Leah Romero
EL PASO - The Plaza Theatre was nearly packed Friday evening for the first of two performances of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra’s final concert series, spotlighting the musical talent in the Borderland.
It was wonderful to see so many excited audience members, especially young musicians, filing into the Plaza Theatre for Carmina! and the excitement lasted to the final note. But before we could get to Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, the ensemble dove into Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major.
The first half of the concert eased the audience into the evening with one of Mozart’s final symphonies. I could let my mind wander with the rich major harmonies and beautiful melodic lines passing from the woodwinds to strings and brass. The dash toward the end of the final Allegro movement comes to a sudden end, and I’m left with a smile on my face going into intermission.
Vocal musicians from the UTEP Choral Union filled the risers on the back of the stage for the second half, and anticipation rose as Maestro Bohuslav Rattay lifted his baton. Anyone not familiar with Carmina Burana will immediately recognize the first movement, “O Fortuna,” which immediately gave me chills at the first downbeat of the drum.
Throughout the 25-movement piece, the symphony and choral union are joined on stage by members of the Youth Opera of El Paso and guest soloists Meechot Marrero, soprano; Brian Downen, tenor; and Ricardo Herrera, baritone. Each instrumental section is highlighted beautifully, and I’m once again reminded of the caliber of our local musical talent. I was particularly impressed by the young vocalists, who sounded beautiful and did a wonderful job of joining the professional musicians on stage.
The piece makes its way around the circle of fate and returns to “O Fortuna.” Audience members were quickly on their feet and applauding the impressive performance. And just like that, the EPSO has come full circle and concluded a fantastic musical season with a full audience, a packed stage and an incredible performance.
The symphony’s 96th season has a lot to live up to, but I’m already excited to return.
Leah Romero is a freelance writer based in southern New Mexico. She can be reached at www.LeahRRomero.com.
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