South Florida Classical Review

Karol Szymanowski

The violin concertos of Karol Szymanowski almost never appear on South Florida concert programs, despite their haunting melodies and alluring blend of late Romantic mystery and 20th century sharpness. But the Polish composer’s Violin Concerto No. 2 will be performed Saturday and Sunday as part of the annual “Concerto Showcase” program with solo performances by winners of the New World Symphony’s concerto competition.

Every year, the Miami Beach orchestra’s young musicians compete for the chance to play solo concertos with the orchestra, and the concerts have always been an impressive display of talent and professionalism. To their credit, the four winners selected works that make a refreshing change from the warhorses so often performed by celebrity soloists.

In addition to the Szymanowski, there will be a performance of the Flute Concerto by André Jolivet, a 20th century French composer, the Haydn Cello Concerto in C — not precisely a rarity, but not heard all that often either — and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1, a work with influences of the Grieg concerto that hails from the composer’s conservatory years, which he later revised

Alasdair Neale conducts the New World Symphony’s “Concerto Showcase” 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at New World Center in Miami Beach. nws.edu; 800-597-3331.

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