Inspired by black and white movies from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and a song that goes by the same name, El Jinete (The Rider) is a tribute to mariachi music, Mexican culture and love. The opera was written and directed by Mercedes Bátiz-Benét, the artistic director of Victoria-based Puente Theatre.

In an interview with The Ubyssey, Bátiz-Benét described the experience as an opportunity for Canadian audiences to see the origins of mariachi music. The story revolves around El Jinete, an embodiment of the mariachi archetype, who must travel from Mexico to the United States to rescue the love of his life after she is kidnapped.

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