Photo Courtesy of Leah Romero.

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra is back this weekend with its Heaven on Earth concert series—a stunning performance of Strauss and Mahler compositions, featuring returning guest soprano soloist Meechot Marrero.

Heaven on Earth is a heady program or the “conductor’s concert of the season,” as Nathan Black, Opening Notes lecturer, described it. I always recommend attending the opening lecture, but Black’s knowledge is especially helpful to prepare you for this performance and what you’ll hear over the next two hours.

We started with Richard Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel, op. 28, a tone poem based on a mischievous German folk character. I smiled through the entirety of the piece as humorous melodic and rhythmic lines passed around the orchestra. I could hear “Till’s” pranks, the annoyance he
caused those around him, and his eventual death at the conclusion, all with a flair of lightheartedness.

The piece calls for a much larger woodwind section, and what a treat! It’s not often you get to see a bassoon section with four people. And the clarinets and horns were fantastic at portraying Till’s complicated thematic lines.

We continued the first half with more tone poems—Strauss’ Four Liefer, op. 27, originally written for voice and piano. Soprano soloist Meechot Marrero is incredibly expressive, not just with her voice but her whole body and facial expressions. The third and fourth lieder were my favorites.

The third, Heimliche Aufforderung (Secret Invitation), is light and very flirty while the fourth, Morgen! (Tomorrow), moved me to tears. The dynamic between Marrero and the first violin is palpable as they “sang” to each other.

The second half of the concert featured Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, G major with Marrero returning for the final movement. The nearly hour-long piece really spotlighted the horns, who worked double time as there was no low brass section for the entirety. The piece is a heavy lift, but concludes on a quiet, contemplative note. I hope more people join the audience at the Plaza Theatre tonight to experience Heaven on Earth, you won’t regret it.

Leah Romero is a freelance writer based in southern New Mexico. She can be reached at www.LeahRRomero.com.