EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso Symphony Orchestra (EPSO) will open its 94th season with “Vivaldi Four Seasons – At Last!” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20-21 at the Plaza Theatre, EPSO announced in a news release.
EPSO said the program’s first half will showcase Vivaldi’s masterpiece, “The Four Seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter).” The four violin concertos broke new ground with their programmatic depiction of the changing seasons, according to a news release announcing the upcoming season.
Concertmaster Matthew Vera, violin, will lead the string orchestra in this breathtaking piece of Baroque music, according to EPSO.
Here is Vera’s biography as listed on EPSO’s news release:
“Mexican American violinist Matthew Vera is known for his versatility as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader. Matthew made his solo debut on the viola with the Tucson Philharmonia at age 14. He has appeared as a soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic, The Tucson Philharmonia, The Tucson Symphony, The World Youth Symphony Orchestra and The New England Conservatory Symphony. He has attended numerous festivals including Tanglewood, The Heifetz Institute, Brevard Music Center, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival and more.
“As an orchestral musician, Matthew can be heard all over the country. He has been a member of the Boston Philharmonic’s first violin section since 2010 and is occasionally a guest concertmaster. Matthew will join the El Paso Symphony as concertmaster in the fall of 2024, serving as guest concertmaster since spring of 2022.”
The second half of the program will feature Mahler’s thrilling Symphony No. 1.
“As in many Mahler works, nature and human experience flourish in the immense First Symphony. The orchestra required the largest assembly of any symphony up to that date. It took him from 1883 to 1888 to finish the First Symphony for its premiere and another 11 years to have it ready for publication,” read the news release.
Music director and conductor Bohuslav Rattay will lead the 80-member orchestra in this “Titan” piece, according to EPSO.
“Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 proves that even a serious classical composer like Mahler can turn a catchy folk tune into an epic emotional rollercoaster! Buckle up, it’s a wild ride from start to finish,” Bohuslav Rattay said.
EPSO’s 2024-2025 season schedule can be found here.
Prices for season tickets, six classical concerts, are $246, $210, $183, $102 and $72 plus fees.
Discounts for the season tickets are 20 percent for seniors and active-duty military, 30 percent for educators and 50 percent for students.
Prices for single tickets are $49, $44, $37, $23 and $17 plus fees.
Student tickets for $9 and $12 plus fees are also available.
Tickets may be purchased at epso.org, ticketmaster.com or by calling the EPSO office (915) 532-3776.
In addition, EPSO will host its 94th anniversary gala, “Latin Night,” from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 at the El Paso Country Club.
Dinner, dancing and fun activities like “la loteria” will kick off EPSO’s 94th season.
For more information or to purchase tickets for “Latin Night” visit here.
Read: Read More