El Paso Symphony Orchestra Ends Season in Spectacular Fashion
Carmina Burana! April 24 & 25, 2026
with the UTEP Choral Union and Youth Opera of El Paso
EL PASO, TX — The El Paso Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Bohuslav Rattay, will spectacularly conclude its 95th season on April 24 and 25, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the Plaza Theatre. EPSO will feature soloists Meechot Marrero (soprano), Brian Downen (tenor), and Ricardo Herrera (baritone), along with over 200 voices from the UTEP Choral Union and the Youth Opera of El Paso. Together, they will perform the monumental 20th-century cantata Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. “Carmina Burana is notorious for its physical challenge on singers and players alike, blending medieval poetry’s earthy themes (fate, love, drinking, lust) with Orff’s pounding percussion and bold choral writing. It’s a workout that leaves performers—and audiences—feeling the full force of fortune’s wheel!” says conductor Bohuslav Rattay.
The concerts, sponsored by Hunt Companies, will begin with the El Paso Symphony performing Mozart’s Symphony No. 39. This symphony merges vibrant energy with operatic melodies, highlighting Mozart’s mastery of symphonic composition. It serves as the perfect opening for this spectacular season finale.
TICKETS are on sale now and can be purchased at epso.org, ticketmaster.com, or by calling the EPSO office (915) 532-3776. Prices are $49, $44, $37, $23, and $17 plus fees. Student tickets are available for $9 and $12 plus fees.
LEARN MORE: Join EPSO before each performance at Opening Notes, 6:30 pm in the Philanthropy Theatre, to get insights on the program, composers, and artists.
ABOUT THE SOLOIST:
MEECHOT MARRERO (SOPRANO) has been called “a revelation… a young Puerto Rican star with a great career ahead” (El Nuevo Día). She recently created the title role in the world premiere of Nico Muhly’s Aphrodite with Australia’s Sydney Chamber Opera and Carriageworks (“fascinating… with a luscious, rich tone matching the fabled beauty of the goddess” Australian Book Review). Meechot graduated as valedictorian from the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music and holds a Master of Music from the Yale School of Music.
BRIAN DOWNEN (TENOR) is an Associate Professor of Voice at the University of Texas at El Paso, has sung leading roles in more than 85 productions for opera houses worldwide. He is known for his portrayals of leading men in the bel canto operas of Mozart and Rossini, including numerous productions of Il Barbiere di Siviglia, La Cenerentola, L’Italiana in Algeri, Don Giovanni and Die Zauberflöte. Brian debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in 2016 in Roberto Devereux and has since returned as Triquet in Eugene Onegin, and as an understudy for the four servants in Les Contes d’Hoffmann. Recent engagements include the role of Philemon in the Haydn marionette opera Jupiter’s Journey to the Earth with the Little Opera Theatre of New York; Gastone in La Traviata, with El Paso Opera, and “Great Italian Arias” with El Paso Symphony Orchestra.
RICARDO HERRERA (BASS-BARITONE) is a performer, teacher, and stage director. Ricardo has sung more than 50 operatic roles around the USA, Mexico, and Europe. He has sung with San Francisco Opera, Gotham Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, El Paso Opera, Oldenburgisches Staatstheater, Cincinnati Opera, Caramoor Festival, Atlanta Opera, among others. Ricardo was honored as the First Prize Award Winner of the LiciaAlbanese-Puccini Foundation Competition in NYC and was also invited to participate in Plácido Domingo’s Operalia World Opera Contest. Among his signature roles, he has sung Diego Rivera in the opera Frida around the country, including Detroit, Cincinnati, Miami, Atlanta, and El Paso; and the title role in Don Giovanni in a USA national tour with Western Opera Theater. He has been Chair of the voice faculty of the University of Illinois and continues to give masterclasses around the USA, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. He is the founder of the Ricardo Herrera International Singing Competition and of HerrVocalis training program.
For further information, contact EPSO at (915) 532-3376 or email. 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.
RECAP:
Opening Notes: Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, 2026, 6:30 pm, Philanthropy Theatre (Free)
Concerts: Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25, 2026, 7:30 pm Plaza Theatre
EL PASO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Bohuslav Rattay, Conductor
Meechot Marrero, Soprano
Brian Downen, Tenor
Ricardo Herrera, Baritone
UTEP Choral Union directed by Dr. Elisa Wilson
Youth Opera of El Paso directed by Kimberley Wolfenbarger- Nakamoto
Program:
Mozart Symphony No. 39, K. 543, E-flat major
Orff Carmina Burana
Tickets: $49, $44, $37, $23, $17, and $9 or $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.
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CONTACT:
Rosemary Flores
El Paso Symphony Orchestra
(915) 532-3776
rosemary@epso.org