Spokane Symphony: James Lowe - Celebrating Sibelius

Spokane Symphony: James Lowe - Celebrating Sibelius at Martin Woldson Theatre At The Fox

Jean Sibelius wrote symphonies that rise and gather force like weather systems moving across the northern landscape. His Seventh Symphony unfolds in one continuous arc, building toward a blazing affirmation that feels earned rather than imposed. On Saturday, February 27, 2027, at 7:30 PM, the Spokane Symphony performs Celebrating Sibelius at the Martin Woldson Theatre at The Fox. Conductor James Lowe leads a program centered on Finnish music, anchored by Sibelius's Seventh and the familiar drama of Finlandia.

Principal Horn Clinton Webb takes center stage for Richard Strauss's Second Horn Concerto, a glowing work that balances technical demand with expressive warmth. The horn's rich voice carries the concerto's lyrical lines, supported by the full orchestra. If you've ever listened closely to a horn solo and felt its unexpected emotional weight, this concerto makes that quality central.

The program also includes Robert Kajanus's Finnish Rhapsody No. 1 and Lemminkäinen's Return, Sibelius's vivid orchestral narrative drawn from Finnish mythology. Each piece offers a different facet of the Nordic sound world: folk-inspired melody, mythic storytelling and the large-scale symphonic architecture Sibelius is known for. Sibelius provides the program's main thread, while Kajanus and Strauss add contrasting voices.

Bring someone who enjoys orchestral music that rewards attention. A Saturday evening gives you time to arrive early for the 6:30 PM preconcert talk, then settle in for a program built around sweep and emotional power. Check ticket options for Spokane Symphony's Celebrating Sibelius and make a plan for a night of Nordic symphonic storytelling.