The Oregon Symphony Presents How to Train Your Dragon
Live at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, February 21st, 2026
This past weekend the Oregon Symphony continued their Film Concerts series with the 2010 animated Dreamworks’ classic, How to Train Your Dragon. Accompanied by conductor Deanna Tham, the Oregon Symphony elevated the standard theater-going experience, bringing John Powell’s Academy Award nominated, Celtic and Nordic inspired score to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
The illustrious performance brought the film to life in a way I couldn’t have expected before experiencing it myself; shining a unique emphasis on the numerous epic action sequences and emotional story beats of the film, creating a massively captivating experience that draws attention to the wonderfully crafted score without distracting from the film itself. I hadn’t seen How to Train Your Dragon since the film first debuted in theaters roughly 16 years ago, and in many ways this felt like a wholly new experience. Not because I am unfamiliar with the film, I felt I had a solid recollection of the film’s story, but because I had never experienced a film hoisted up by its score in this manner. The score that John Powell arranged for this film is undeniably sweeping and lush no matter how you experience the film, but experiencing it live brought the enchanting, dragon inhabited island of berk to life in a way no other viewing experience could.
I was fascinated by the celebratory energy that filled the auditorium: children and adults alike sporting costumes of Hiccup and Toothless, and the auditorium erupting with cheers as fan-favorite characters were introduced worked to establish an undeniably charming tone for the evening. Everywhere I looked there was How to Train Your Dragon merchandise and memorabilia, making myself feel a bit out of place in my casual weekend attire. Although I felt out of place in the devout fandom, I couldn’t reject the pure joy surging from the fleet of children dressed as their favorite cartoon dragon, as they watched the performance with mesmerized looks of adoration. This was easily one of the most distinctively charming live music experiences I’ve had the pleasure of attending.
Whether you’re a fan of any of the upcoming films (or film scores) in the Oregon Symphony’s Film Concert series, looking for a memorable date night, trying to introduce your children to the symphony, or are just looking for a way to spend the weekend, I couldn’t recommend this experience enough.
See future dates to catch the Oregon Symphony and grab tickets here.
