It is still not too late to listen to this incredible performance by the UTRGV Symphony Orchestra. This time in Edinburg, Texas.
Revueltas; La Noche de los Mayas under conductor Norman Gamboa, with special guest Nicaulis Alliey, with her flute, was fantastic. Their first performance was on Tuesday, February 10, at the Texas Southmost College (TSC)Arts Center in Brownsville, Texas.
The concert opened with the string orchestra from Colegio San Juan of neighboring Matamoros, my hometown. This was unexpected for me, and it was a moment of great pride because it shows how beautiful life is on the border, where talent and creativity continue to flourish as they have for centuries. This is a time for joy, not hate, bound by melodies so well executed by this binational group of students.
The incredibly curated repertoire of Mexican classical music featured works by Grammy-winning Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz. I am not a music expert, but Ortiz’s music is described as including “vivacious rhythms, tuneful melodies, and bold ideas.” By CPR Classical’s article “It’s Time to Listen to the Bold Music of Gabriela Ortiz,” published on August 2, 2025. Her composition, Kauyumari, delivered just that. I recommend readers to find this article, or listen to the three-time Grammy-winning album “Revolución Diamantina.”
We also heard Concierto de Minería by another Mexican composer, Samuel Zyman, with flute soloist Nicaulis Alliey. Zyman received a Mozart Medal in 1998; his music has been performed worldwide.
To wrap up this memorable concert was the musical score from the 1939 film “La Noche de los Mayas” by Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas. It was just magical, and so were the night lights reflecting on the resaca by the Performing Arts Center.
Cameron County is blessed to have Dr. Judith Arrieta, the Mexican Consul in Brownsville, who is instrumental in fostering appreciation for Mexican fine arts. The Mexican Consulate in Brownsville was founded in the 1850s following the Mexican-American War and has since been instrumental in diplomatic and trade relations between the region’s border cities.
Winter in the Rio Grande Valley is mild and pleasant, and if we add the opportunity to delight in UTRGV’s fine arts programs, it turns magical. A cool night, a romantic glow over a resaca, and a binational classical music concert, it just does not get any better than that.
You still have time to enjoy this concert. The UTRGV symphony orchestra will encore Revueltas’ La Noche de los Mayas on February 25th, 2026, at the Edinburg Performing Arts Complex. General admission is $10.
For tickets, go to Showpass.com. There are no assigned seats. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.
To read about UTRGV’s Flamenco dance performance I posted about, please click here.
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