Enigma Variations

Oregon Symphony brings Edward Elgar's Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36, better known as the Enigma Variations, to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Saturday, January 30, 2027. The full performance is led by Music Director and Conductor David Danzmayr, and the evening is part of the symphony's Special Concerts series, which in Portland is eligible for the Choose Your Own Series.

The Enigma Variations is one of Elgar's most loved works, and it's a bit of a family album in musical form. Each variation is a portrait of someone from his circle of friends and family in rural Worcestershire—people like Winifred Norbury, Arthur Troyte Griffith, and Dora Penny—and Elgar himself makes an appearance too. The title comes from the 'enigma' he left behind: a hidden theme that runs through the whole piece, which he never fully revealed.

What makes this a bit different from a standard symphony night is how it starts. Before the full performance, popular-music educator Paul Rissmann opens the evening with a multimedia, laid-back, and interactive presentation. He walks the audience through the work and the people it's about, so by the time the orchestra actually starts playing, you've got a handle on who the variations are meant to be. It's a good way to get your bearings before the music takes over.

The concert is at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway Dr, Portland, OR 97205. It starts at 7:30 PM, with doors opening around 6:30 PM.