Plaza and Chavez Theatre Clear Bag Policy

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As of September 1, 2024, El Paso Live implemented a new clear bag policy at all their venues: the Plaza Theatre, Abraham Chavez Theatre, and McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre. The clear bag policy will strictly limit the size and types of bags permitted inside the venues.

 Below are El Paso Live’s new policies on bags, security measures, and cashless transactions:

Under the Clear Bag Policy, attendees are encouraged only to bring the following permitted items:

  • One clear bag per guest that is made of plastic, vinyl, or PVC, with dimensions no larger than 12” x 6” x 12”.
  • Small clutch purses no larger than 4.5” x 6.5”, approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap. These clutches are subject to search.
  • Each ticket holder, including children, is allowed to bring an approved clear bag and a clutch purse.

Security Measures:

  • Metal detector screening and a search of all carried items will occur at all venue entrances. Guests with prohibited items will be asked to return them to their vehicle.
  • Diapers and wipes may be carried in a clear bag; however, diaper bags will not be permitted.
  • Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at designated security gates. Guests requiring this service are encouraged to notify security staff before scanning.

Important Notice: There are no provisions exist to check prohibited bags or items at any El Paso Live venues. Guests will be required to return prohibited items to their vehicles or dispose of them at the entrance. El Paso Live is not responsible for any items left behind, lost, stolen, or damaged.

Cashless Transactions: In addition to the clear bag policy, all El Paso Live venues will operate as cashless facilities. Guests are encouraged to be prepared for cashless transactions at all concessions and parking entrances. This change is part of El Paso Live’s ongoing effort to enhance efficiency and provide a safer, more convenient experience for all attendees. [NOTE: EPSO BOX OFFICE WILL TAKE CASH.]

For more information on El Paso Live’s clear bag policy and cashless operations, please visit ElPasoLive.com.  If you have any questions or concerns about attending an El Paso Symphony concert, please do not hesitate to call us at (915) 532-3776.  We truly appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you throughout our season!

 

THE EL PASO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES ITS 2024-2025 SEASON

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For 94 years, EPSO has cultivated community through classical music. “As we embark on another exciting season, I am filled with a profound sense of anticipation and gratitude. It is your unwavering support and enthusiasm that fuel our passion for bringing extraordinary music to life,” Music Director Bohuslav Rattay says.

The maestro adds that the new season, which kicks off September 14 with a “Latin Night” gala, offers “a rich tapestry of performances that will take us on a journey through time, across continents, and into the depths of human emotion. From the beloved classics that have stood the test of time to contemporary works that challenge and inspire us, our program reflects the diverse and dynamic world of music today.”

EPSO’s season begins with dinner, dancing, and La Loteria on “Latin Night,” a fundraiser celebrating 94 years, at 6:30 pm on Saturday, September 14, at the El Paso Country Club.

The classical series opens at 7:30 pm September 20-21 at the Plaza Theatre with the captivating sounds of Vivaldi’s masterpiece, The Four Seasons, composed to mirror the spirit of each season through descriptive sonnets, and Mahler’s thrilling Symphony No. 1.

As part of our long-standing commitment to partnership with local arts groups, we will join forces with the El Paso Opera for “Great Italian Areas” at 7:30pm October 18-19, 2024 at the Plaza Theatre.

The first half of the season concludes with “Christmas in Vienna” at 7:30pm December 6-7 at the Plaza Theatre, which will showcase the incredible voices of The Choral Union and the talented Candice Reyes as we capture the enchanting spirit of wintertime in Vienna.

Also this fall, EPSO is thrilled to continue the Harry Potter film series with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert™ at 7 pm November 9 at the Plaza Theatre.  The El Paso Symphony Orchestra will accompany the film on the big screen, performing Oscar®-winning composer John Williams’ musical score.

The second half of the season begins January 24-25, 2025, with “Beethoven – Love in the Age of War,” our annual collaboration with El Paso Pro-Musica.  The program will include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 and Piano Concerto No. 3, with critically acclaimed pianist Awadagin Pratt. The February 21-22, 2025, concerts will embrace Romeo & Juliet and the theme of love. Our 94th season will conclude April 25-26, 2025, with “Fabulous Finale – Classical Trio,” featuring the music of Dvořák, Rachmaninoff, and Stravinsky.

Download Season Brochure here: EPSO Brochure 2024-2025 Final

SEASON TICKETS:  Season tickets are available through the El Paso Symphony Orchestra (915) 532-3776. Season ticket prices (6 classical concerts): $246, $210, $183, $102, $72 plus fees. Discounts for the season tickets are 20% senior and active-duty military, 30% educator, and 50% students.

SINGLE TICKETS for classical concerts are on sale now. Individual prices are $49, $44, $37, $23, and $17 plus fees.  Student tickets for $9 and $12 plus fees are available. Tickets may be purchased at epso.org, ticketmaster.com, or by calling the EPSO office (915) 532-3776.

LEARN MORE:  Join EPSO prior to each performance at Opening Notes, 6:30pm in the Philanthropy Theatre, to get insights on the program, composers, and artists.

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For further information, contact EPSO at (915) 532-3376 or email rosemary@epso.org. The El Paso Symphony Orchestra is presented with the support of the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Fantastic Classics

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EPSO Rings in the New Year with
“Fantastic Classics”
featuring Husband-and-Wife Team
Kurt Nikkanen, Violin & Maria Asteriadou, Piano

Artists presented in collaboration with El Paso Pro-Musica

Friday, January 19 & Saturday, January 20, 2024
7:30pm Plaza Theatre

 

El Paso, TX – Husband-and-wife duo, violinist Kurt Nikkanen and pianist Maria Asteriadou join the El Paso Symphony Orchestra led by Maestro Bohuslav Rattay on January 19 & 20, 2024, 7:30pm Plaza Theatre for the 18th annual collaboration with El Paso Pro-Musica.  The duo will perform Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Piano, Violin and Strings.  Heralded as “an artist with intense personality, virtuosic flair, unusual poise and intimate contact with style” by The New York Times, Greek pianist Maria Asteriadou is an acclaimed soloist performing with orchestra all over the world, a chamber musician and pedagogue. Together with her husband, violinist Kurt Nikkanen, she appears in recitals worldwide.  Nikkanen is an international soloist who performs with leading orchestras in the United States, Europe, Japan and the Far East.   Born in Hartford, Connecticut, he began his violin studies at age 3.  He made his Carnegie Hall debut at age 12 and two years later he was invited to perform the Paganini Concerto No. 1 with the New York Philharmonic for a Young People’s Concert. “I am eagerly looking forward to Mendelssohn’s rarely performed concerto for piano, violin and string orchestra. He never disappoints with his contrasting composing, moving from virtuosic passages onto beautiful and lyrical melodies.” says EPSO conductor Bohuslav Rattay.

The program opens with Beethoven’s Fidelio Overture and ends with the Debussy’s tone poem La Mer. Debussy had fond childhood memories of the sea, but when composing La Mer, he drew inspiration from art, preferring the seascapes in paintings and literature. Debussy creates a soundscape in three movements depicting the beauties of the sea, wind and waves. “La Mer is a triumphant feat by Debussy and a magnificent piece of music. Just beautiful!” says Rattay.

Tickets at ticketmaster.com, the Plaza Theatre Box Office or by phone (915) 532-3776.
Prices are $49, $44, $37, $23 and $17 plus fees.
Student tickets for $9 and $12 plus fees are available.

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra is presented with the support of the Museums and Cultural Affairs, the Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. This evening’s program is sponsored by PNC Bank.

LEARN MORE:   Join us prior to each performance at Opening Notes with Nathan Black, 6:30pm in the Philanthropy Theatre, to get insights on the program, composers and artist.

RECAP:

Opening Notes: Friday, January 19 and Saturday, January 20, 2024, 6:30pm Philanthropy Theatre (Free)
Concerts: Friday, January 19 and Saturday, January 20, 2024, 7:30pm Plaza Theatre

“Fantastic Classics”
El Paso Symphony Orchestra
Bohuslav Rattay, Conductor
Kurt Nikkanen, Violin & Maria Asteriadou, Piano
Beethoven Fidelio Overture, op. 72c
Mendelssohn Concerto for Piano, Violin & Strings
Debussy La Mer

Tickets: $49, $44, $37, $23, $17 and $9 and $12 for students plus applicable fees. Tickets may be purchased at epso.org, ticketmaster.com, Plaza Theatre box office or by calling the EPSO office at (915) 532-3776.

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Opens EPSO Season in September

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YUNCHAN LIM, 2022 CLIBURN GOLD MEDALIST
Opens El Paso Symphony’s 2022-2023 Season

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to welcome the 2022 Cliburn Gold Medalist, Yunchan Lim to El Paso to open its 2022-2023 season, September 23 & 24, 2022, 7:30pm Plaza Theatre.

Yunchan Lim launched onto the international music stage when he was 14. He won second prize and the Chopin Special Award in his first-ever competition, the Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists in 2018. That same year, he stood out as the youngest participant in the Cooper International Competition, where he won the third prize and the audience prize, which provided the opportunity for him to perform with the Cleveland Orchestra. 2019 meant more accolades, when, at the age of 15, he was the youngest to win Korea’s IsangYun International Competition, where he also took home two special prizes.
 
Now just 18, he has performed across South Korea—including with the Korean Orchestra Festival, Korea Symphony, Suwon Philharmonic, and Busan Philharmonic Orchestras, among others—as well as in Madrid, at the invitation of the Korea Cultural Center in Spain. He also participated in the recording of “2020 Young Musicians of Korea,” organized by the Korean Broadcasting System and released that November. 
 
A native of Siheung, Yunchan currently studies at the Korea National University of Arts under Minsoo Sohn. Coming to Fort Worth, he says he is “looking forward to playing in front of the warmest and most passionate audience in the world.” 

Click here to learn more about Yunchan and watch him perform in the competition.

SEASON TICKETS TO THE EL PASO SYMPHONY’S 2022-2023 SEASON ARE AVAILABLE NOW! Call (915) 532-3776 for more information.

A Grammy Performance

Posted on by EPSO

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra (EPSO) led by conductor Bohuslav Rattay will ring in the New Year with Grammy award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey in concerts fittingly titled A Grammy Performance.  Zuill Bailey, sponsored by Mrs. Robert M. Graham, Sr., and EPSO will take the Plaza Theatre stage on January 17 and 18, 2020, 7:30pm. These concerts celebrate the 15th annual collaboration between the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and El Paso Pro-Musica, whose joint mission is to present world-renowned artists to perform on multiple stages throughout El Paso, reaching a broader audience.

The concerts first half feature two of the pinnacles of the romantic classical repertoire: Saint-Saëns’s Cello Concerto No. 1 and Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations.  The concerts open with Bailey and EPSO performing Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto which is one of the best-loved of 19th-century concertos.  Next is Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, which he wrote while going through a severe depression.  Learning to escape depression through his work, Tchaikovsky wrote the Rococo Variations for Cello and Orchestra, one of his most nostalgic affirmations of love to what he perceived as the virtuousness of the eighteenth century.

The second half of the performances highlight the orchestra in Dvořák Symphony No. 7, op. 70 in D minor.  Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society in 1883 and is a departure from the composer’s usual musical style, which is known for its brightness and folk theme-filled melodies.  While still containing some Slavic elements, the Seventh Symphony is a little less bright and contains less folk material than his earlier works, with prevalent tragic and dark themes.

LEARN MORE:  Join EPSO and Dr. James Welsch, EPSO Assistant Conductor, prior to each performance at Opening Notes, 6:30pm in the Philanthropy Theatre, to get insights on the program, composers and artist.

ABOUT ZUILL BAILEY: Zuill Bailey, widely considered one of the premiere cellists in the world, is a Grammy Award winner, distinguished soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, Artistic Director and teacher.  His rare combination of celebrated artistry, technical wizardry and engaging personality has secured his place as one of the most sought after and active cellists today.  Recent highlights include appearances with orchestras such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, Israel, San Francisco, Toronto, Nashville, North Carolina, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and the Philharmonia (UK) with conductors Itzhak Perlman, Carlos Kalmar, Neeme Jarvi, Jun Markl, Stanislav Skrowaczewski, Alan Gilbert, Andrey Borekyo, Krzysztof Urbanski, Giancarlo Guerrero, Andrew Litton, Grant Llewellyn and James DePriest.  He was honored as the distinguished Alumnus of 2014 by Johns Hopkins University Peabody Institute.

Zuill Bailey is an internationally renowned recording artist with over 20 titles. His extensive discography includes the Bach Cello Suites, the newly released Schumann, Haydn Cello Concertos and Britten Cello Symphony/Cello Sonata CD’s, all of which immediately soared to the Number One spot on the Classical Billboard Charts. The Grammy Award-winning Tales of Hemingway swept the board with three Grammy Awards including Best Solo Performance by Zuill Bailey.  Mr. Bailey performs on the “rosette” 1693 Matteo Gofriller Cello, formerly owned by Mischa Schneider of the Budapest String Quartet.  He is the Artistic Director of El Paso Pro-Musica (Texas), the Sitka Summer Music Festival/Series and Cello Seminar, (Alaska), the Northwest Bach Festival (Washington), guest Artistic Director of the Mesa Arts Center (Arizona) and Professor of Cello at the University of Texas at El Paso.

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

RECAP:
Opening Notes: Friday, January 17 & Saturday, January 18, 2020, 6:30pm Philanthropy Theatre (Free)
Concerts: “A GRAMMY PERFORMANCE”

Friday, January 17 & Saturday, January 18, 2020, 7:30pm Plaza Theatre
El Paso Symphony Orchestra
Bohuslav Rattay, Conductor
Zuill Bailey, Cello
Saint-Saëns Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No. 1, op. 33 in A minor
Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33
Dvořák Symphony No. 7, op. 70 in D minor
Tickets: $46, $41, $35, $22, $16 and $9 and $12 for students plus applicable fees. Tickets may be purchase at epso.org, ticketmaster.com or by calling the EPSO office at (915) 532-3776.

 

Violinist, Yevgeny Kutik, Makes Debut with EPSO

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Violinist Yevgeny Kutik
Makes Debut with El Paso Symphony Orchestra
Performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto

El Paso, TX — On Friday, October 18, 2019 and Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 7:30pm, Russian-American violinist Yevgeny Kutik, known for his “dark-hued tone and razor-sharp technique” (The New York Times), makes his debut with El Paso Symphony Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.  Led by Music Director Bohuslav Rattay, the program also features Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 “Leningrad Symphony.” Both performances begin at 7:30pm at The Plaza Theatre.

“Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto is one of the crown jewels in our repertoire for good reason,” says Kutik. “The melding of Russian sound, soul, folk music and virtuosity into one epic work is unparalleled, and I’m thrilled to make my debut with El Paso Symphony Orchestra to perform it.”

This concert will also feature a special collaboration with the Tom Lea Institute to present a unique multimedia experience incorporating Tom Lea’s iconic WWII paintings, sketches and photos of his time as the first embedded artist correspondent for WWII. These elements will be synched with the powerful last movement of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 “Leningrad Symphony.”

Concert ticket prices are $46, $41, $35, $22 and $16 plus fees.  Student tickets for $9 and $12 plus fees are available.  Tickets may be purchase at epso.org, ticketmaster.com

or by calling the EPSO office at (915) 532-3776.

The October 18 & 19 EPSO concerts are generously sponsored by the Helen of Troy.  Yevgeny Kutik is underwritten by Judy & Kirk Robison.

ABOUT THE SOLOIST: Yevgeny Kutik has captivated audiences worldwide with an old-world sound that communicates a modern intellect. Praised for his technical precision and virtuosity, he is also lauded for his poetic and imaginative interpretations of standard works as well as rarely heard and newly composed repertoire. A native of Minsk, Belarus, Yevgeny Kutik immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of five. His 2014 album, Music from the Suitcase: A Collection of Russian Miniatures (Marquis Classics), features music he found in his family’s suitcase after immigrating to the United States from the Soviet Union in 1990, debuting at No. 5 on the Billboard Classical chart. The album garnered critical acclaim and was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and in The New York Times.

In 2019, Kutik launched a new commissioning and recording project titled Meditations on Family via Marquis Classics. He commissioned eight composers to translate a personal family photo into a short musical miniature for violin and various ensemble, envisioning the project as a living archive of new works inspired by memories, home, and belonging. Each track was released digitally weekly, and the full EP CD, produced by four-time Grammy winner Jesse Lewis, was released on March 22, 2019. Strings Magazine featured Kutik and Meditations on Family as its cover story for the March/April issue. Kutik’s other recordings include his debut album, Sounds of Defiance (Marquis 2012), and Words Fail (Marquis 2016), both released to critical acclaim.

Yevgeny Kutik made his major orchestral debut in 2003 with Keith Lockhart and The Boston Pops as the First Prize recipient of the Boston Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition. In 2006, he was awarded the Salon de Virtuosi Grant as well as the Tanglewood Music Center Jules Reiner Violin Prize. Yevgeny Kutik began violin studies with his mother, Alla Zernitskaya, and went on to study with Zinaida Gilels, Shirley Givens, Roman Totenberg, and Donald Weilerstein. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s degree from the New England Conservatory and currently resides in Boston. Kutik’s violin was crafted in Italy in 1915 by Stefano Scarampella. For more information, please visit www.yevgenykutik.com.

THE TOM LEA INSTITUTE presents a unique multimedia experience incorporating Tom Lea’s iconic World War II paintings, sketches and photos of his time as the first embedded artist correspondent for WWII.  Using state-of-the-art editing techniques, special effects, and animation, Tom Lea’s art will be portrayed as never before. Synched with the powerful last movement of Shostakovich’s Leningrad symphony, viewers travel with Lea over 100,000 miles as an eyewitness to WWII.  Tom Lea provided insight into his approach as an artist correspondent, “I went out to the war as a reporter.  I absolutely was not going to do anything that I didn’t see and know-because I was there to record it, not as I thought it should be or not as an object of art.”  His painting “The Price” hung in the offices of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon for many years, as a reminder of the cost of the decisions made.

For Lea, it all began early in March 1941.  Life’s Dan Longwell, then the magazine’s executive editor, who had been impressed by Lea’s illustrations for J. Frank Dobie’s “The Longhorns,” decided to see what Lea could do for a story the magazine was planning to run on the 1st Cavalry Division. As Lea describes it: “ World War II came riding a horse right up in front of my studio door, dismounted, and put a foreshadowing finger on my easel in the spring of 1941, ten months before Pearl Harbor.  The March winds were blowing through the Pass, howling across the boondocks, rattling sand in grainy blasts against my studio window the day a totally unexpected telegram came from New York.  It was signed by a stranger, with an identifying tagline “Editorial Staff Life Magazine.”  It was a query.  It asked if I would take a commission to make a drawing of a typical cavalry trooper and his mount, to fit a story feature Life was doing with the 1st Cavalry Division stationed at Fort Bliss.”

Tom Lea went on to become the most prolific and published artist correspondent for Life Magazine during WWII.

ARTFUL PRELUDES: Yevgeny Kutik will join EPSO Music Director Bohulav Rattay at the El Paso Museum of Art for a discussion and sampling of the El Paso Symphony October concerts on Thursday, October 17, 12pm.  Artful Preludes is presented in collaboration with the El Paso Museum of Art is free and open to the public.  Attendees are welcomed to tour the museum prior to or after the program.

LEARN MORE:  Join EPSO prior to each performance at Opening Notes, 6:30pm in the Philanthropy Theatre, to get insights on the program, composers and artist.

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

RECAP:

Artful Preludes: Thursday, October 17, 12pm, El Paso Museum of Art (Free)
Opening Notes: Friday, October 18 & Saturday, October 19, 2019, 6:30pm Philanthropy Theatre (Free)
Concerts: “Four Guitars”

Friday, October 18 & Saturday, October 19, 2019 7:30pm Plaza Theatre

El Paso Symphony Orchestra
Bohuslav Rattay, Conductor
Yevgeny Kutik, Violin
Tchaikovsky Concerto for Violin, op. 35 in D major
Shostakovich Symphony No. 7, op. 60 in C major “Leningrad Symphony”

Tickets: $46, $41, $35, $22, $16 and $9 and $12 for students plus applicable fees. Tickets may be purchase at epso.org, ticketmaster.com or by calling the EPSO office at (915) 532-3776.

  

Tickets On Sale for Video Games LIVE!

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EL PASO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS VIDEO GAMES LIVE
A Video Game Multimedia Symphonic Concert Experience!

Tickets go on today Wednesday, December 5, 2018, 10am

Video Games Live (VGL) takes the gaming experience light years beyond with a “captivating, proudly bombastic show” (The New York Times) that combines video game music masterfully performed by the El Paso Symphony Orchestra with the explosive energy of a rock concert in the Plaza Theatre on April 13, 2019 at 8PM. Includes music from Final Fantasy, Zelda, Mario, Kingdom Hearts, Metal Gear Solid, Skyrim, Castlevania, Halo, World of Warcraft, Pokemon AND MANY MORE!!

Tickets for Video Games Live go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, 10am and can be purchased at www.epso.org, www.ticketmaster.com, or call the Symphony office at (915) 532-3776, and at the Plaza Theatre Box Office. Tickets prices are $30, $45, $60 to $75 (plus applicable service charges) and are subject to change.

VGL was created by industry legend, composer Tommy Tallarico. The multimedia concert introduces new audiences—families, video game enthusiasts and non-gamers—to the symphonic experience with exclusive video footage and music arrangements, synchronized lighting, well-known Internet solo performers, electronic percussion, live action and interactive segments. The “ingenious and fantastic” (Los Angeles Times) show spotlights the music that enhances the most gripping video game moments—rescuing the princess, winning the boss fight, saving the galaxy from aliens or defeating the undead—with performances from recent blockbusters and iconic classics.

Praise for the immersive concerts is abundant, with VGL being heralded as a “beautiful performance” (USA Today), “simply breathtaking” (IGN.com), “Thrilling!” (The London Times) and “…a feast for the eyes and ears” (Seattle Times).

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.