Events

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra’s 85th Anniversary Season culminates April 29 and 30, 2016, 7:30pm at the Plaza Theatre featuring one of the greatest musical achievements written, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, “Ode to Joy.” Led by Conductor Bohuslav Rattay, the El Paso Symphony Orchestra will be joined on stage by the UTEP Union Chorale, directed by Dr. Elisa Wilson; Kellie Rumba Rattay, Soprano; Cherry Duke, Mezzo-Soprano; Brian Downen, Tenor; and Ricardo Herrera, Bass-baritone. Beethoven’s symphony was the first example of a major composer using voices in a symphonythus making it a choral symphony. The words, sung in the final movement, were taken from a poem, “The Ode to Joy, written by Friedrich Schiller in 1785 and revised in 1803, with additions made by Beethoven. Today, it stands as one of the most played symphonies in the world. “Beethoven’s Ninth symphony is considered a giant in the classical world, and it is only fitting to end our 85th anniversary season with this extraordinary work,” says Ruth Ellen Jacobson, Executive Director. “We invite our community to celebrate this milestone with us.”
Audience members are invited to the pre-concert talk “Opening Notes” with Resident Conductor Andy Moran to further explore the concert program on Friday, April 29, 2016 and Saturday, April 30, 2016, 6:30pm in the Philanthropy Theatre. The pre-concert talks, which are free and open to all, are designed to give concert attendees the inside scoop on the music, composers and artists.