Houston Symphony vividly brings Peer Gynt to life

Karita Mattila, Dima Slobodeniouk and the Houston Symphony

By Sam Jacobson, 29 March 2026

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“a compelling case for hearing Peer Gynt beyond its highlight reel”

Reviewed at Jones Hall, Houston on 28 March 2026

Sibelius, Pohjola's Daughter, Op.49

Still, Threnody: In Memory of Jean Sibelius

Sibelius, Vapautettu kuningatar (The Liberated Queen), ballad for choir and orchestra, Op.48

Grieg, Peer Gynt (Selection)

Dima Slobodeniouk, Conductor

Anthony J. Maglione, Choirmaster / chorus director

Houston Symphony Chorus

Houston Symphony

Karita Mattila, Soprano

Showpieces star in Houston Symphony’s memorable season opener

Phillip Nones, 20th September

Celebration is on the menu at the Houston Symphony Orchestra’s season opening weekend of concerts, conducted by Juraj Valčuha.

****1

Death and lunacy in Juraj Valčuha's Houston Symphony program

Kurt Gottschalk, 15th February

A mad March hare, a murdered child, a hypochondriac prince, and a roomful of dead wives make for a stellar concert by the Houston Symphony Orchestra.

*****

Brilliant Bach from Jane Glover and the Houston Symphony

Sam Jacobson, 3rd April

The Houston Symphony showed the many sides of Bach in a festive performance over the Easter weekend.

***11

Bach by arrangement: Houston Symphony under Esa-Pekka Salonen

Kurt Gottschalk, 27th March

Listening to arrangements of Bach is like Dostoevsky’s challenge not to think about polar bears. It’s best to put the Bach out of your thoughts, even if “the cursed thing will come to mind every minute.”

****1

Full-bodied Beethoven from Yefim Bronfman and Fabien Gabel in Houston

Phillip Nones, 6th March

Fabien Gabel and the Houston Symphony Orchestra present memorable Beethoven performances that are solidly in the Austro-German tradition.

****1

A successful Beethoven 8 in Houston

Laurence Vittes, 30th January

Brinton Averil Smith, the Symphony's principal cello, approached Haydn's D major Concerto with bold courage and passionate, if inconsistently manufactured, strokes.

***11

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Sam Jacobson

Sam Jacobson has been writing for Bachtrack since 2015 and is currently in Pittsburgh, having previously lived throughout the Midwest. A keen traveler, he endeavors to see all the great orchestras and opera houses across the US and abroad. Outside of music, he works as a software engineer. He also maintains a blog which can be read here.