Asheville Symphony’s Romantic Scottish Performance

With works by Bruch, Mendelssohn, and Sweeney.

The Asheville Symphony’s Valentine’s Day offering proved both atmospheric and deeply expressive as audiences filled First Baptist Church of Asheville on Saturday, February 14, 2026, for two performances of “Masterworks 4: Scottish.”

The program, which drew inspiration from Scotland’s landscapes, folklore, and musical traditions, unfolded as a richly curated blend of Romantic color and contemporary voice.

Guest conductor James Lowe led the orchestra with a personal sense of connection, shaped by his years living in Scotland. His affinity for the program’s centerpiece—Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3, Scottish—was evident in the orchestra’s sweeping phrasing and attention to the work’s atmospheric detail.

As the program described, the symphony “evokes misty ruins, rugged coastlines, and sweeping landscapes through a continuous four-movement structure,” a quality that resonated vividly in performance.

The evening opened with Aileen Sweeney’s Glisk, a contemporary work inspired by fleeting flashes of Scottish light. Its quicksilver textures and shimmering orchestral colors set an evocative tone. The title, drawn from an old Scots word meaning “a sudden glimmer or flicker,” proved apt as the piece unfolded in bright, shifting layers.

Violinist Geneva Lewis then took the stage for Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy, delivering a performance marked by clarity, warmth, and expressive depth. Bruch’s score, which “draws on traditional Scottish folk melodies” and blends “lyrical warmth with spirited dance rhythms,” offered Lewis ample space to showcase her artistry. Her interpretation earned an enthusiastic response from the audience, who were quick to recognize the nuance and emotional range she brought to the work.

Mendelssohn’s Scottish symphony closed the program with grandeur. Lowe’s interpretation emphasized the work’s sense of place—its windswept lyricism, its brooding shadows, and its triumphant final surge. The orchestra’s cohesive performance highlighted why the symphony is regarded as “one of [Mendelssohn’s] most atmospheric and emotionally resonant orchestral compositions.”

Throughout the evening, Lowe’s rapport with the ensemble and his personal reflections on Scotland added an intimate dimension. He noted, “I feel extremely close to Mendelssohn’s evocative work as I’ve visited or lived in the places that inspired him,” a sentiment that clearly informed the performance.

For more information, please visit ashevillesymphony.org.