Tonight’s concert of the Portland Symphony Orchestra at Merrill Auditorium was billed as a tribute to the nationalism of two composers: Jean Sibelius and Antonin Dvorak. However inspired, the two larger works on the program, conducted by guest artist Christopher Warren-Green, are much more than patriotic music.

The Sibelius Violin Concerto in D Minor (Opus 47), with violin soloist Steven Moeckel, is one of the great works in the concerto literature. The Dvorak Symphony No. 7 in D minor is one of his most sophisticated and thoroughly composed. Strangely enough, the most nationalistic work of the evening, the Sibelius “Karelia Suite,” (Opus 11) was also by far the most effective.

(The above is a preview. The complete review of the concert will appear in the Portland Press Herald on Thursday.)