Benjamin Bielman – Photo Credit Giorgia Bertazzi

By PAM HARBAUGH

It’s all about the audience Saturday when the Brevard Symphony Orchestra performs its second concert in its season offerings.

Called and “Audience Choice” concert, it will set the stage for some beautiful music. It includes Jean Sibelius’ haunting and powerful violin concerto with Benjamin Beilman on violin. That will be followed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s first symphony, the evocative and playful “Winter Dreams.”

If you’re following along with the season brochure, you may be scratching your head right now because you expected to see violinist Elmar Oliveira performing the Sibelius concerto. However, Mr. Oliveira had to withdraw from the concert which prompted Maestro Christopher Confessore to reach out to rising star Benjamin Beilman.

Mr. Beilman has received numerous international awards including an Avery Fischer Career Grant for his performance of the Sibelius concerto. A performance by the 25-year old violinist was described by The New York Times as “muscular with a glint of violence.” After his performance of this concerto at the Montreal Competition (where he was First Prize Winner), the Strad called his performance “pure poetry.”

So, although Mr. Oliveira won’t be there, it sounds like an exquisite bit of fortune that Brevard audiences will get a chance to hear this emerging talent.

The concert begins 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the King Center for the Performing Arts, 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Tickets are $39 to $50 for individuals, $25 to $38 for season subscribers and $5 to 6 for BSO Kids Concert Club Members. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com or BrevardSymphony.com.