Review: Klaus Mäkelä and the CSO Embody the Hero

Music Director designate Klaus Mäkelä led the Chicago Symphony Orchestra through tone poems celebrating heroes at Symphony Center.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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With an astonishing palette of sound and moods at his disposal, Music Director designate Klaus Mäkelä led the Chicago Symphony Orchestra through tone poems celebrating heroes at Symphony Center on Thursday night. The performance featured works by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and German composer Richard Strauss, showcasing the orchestra's aural colors and textures.

Why it matters

This concert highlighted the talents of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and its new Music Director designate, Klaus Mäkelä. The program featured two epic tone poems that allowed the orchestra to showcase its virtuosity and range, from the moody and mystical to the frenetic and heroic.

The details

The first half of the program featured Sibelius' four-part work Lemminkäinen, which was based on the Finnish epic poem Kalevela. The second half featured Strauss' Ein Heldenleben, a tone poem that celebrates the heroic life of the composer himself. Despite some minor phrasing issues in the Sibelius, the overall performance was described as "dreamy, wistful, and fabulous." Mäkelä's direction was praised for his ability to blend the orchestra's sections and layers the various melodic lines.

  • The concert took place on Thursday, February 21, 2026.
  • The program will be repeated on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 7:30 pm.

The players

Klaus Mäkelä

The Music Director designate of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, known for his ability to draw out the full aural color and textures of the orchestra.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

One of the premier orchestras in the United States, known for its virtuosity and range.

Jean Sibelius

A Finnish composer whose four-part work Lemminkäinen was featured in the first half of the program.

Richard Strauss

A German composer whose tone poem Ein Heldenleben was featured in the second half of the program, celebrating the heroic life of the composer himself.

Herman van Kogelenberg

The guest principal flutist from the Munich Philharmonic who performed with the CSO.

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What’s next

The CSO will repeat this program at Symphony Center on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 7:30 pm.

The takeaway

This concert highlighted the exceptional talents of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and its new Music Director designate, Klaus Mäkelä, who was able to draw out the full range of aural colors and textures from the ensemble in two epic tone poems celebrating heroism.