Ji Yoon Lee, the South Korean musician and winner of the 2015 Windsor Festival International String competition played to a capacity audience in the Windsor Castle Waterloo Chamber on Thursday, September 24.

As the winner of the fifth Windsor Festival International String Competition in March, Ji Yoon Lee, 22, was given the chance for a concerto performance at the Windsor Festival.

Attended by The Earl of Wessex, patron of the Windsor Festival, the programme began with the Philharmonia Orchestra performing the Overture from Oberon, (Carl Maria von Weber) conducted by Jac Van Steen.

The sound produced was rich and full, and yet incredibly smooth. This was a delicate orchestral opening which was followed by Ji Yoon Lee playing Violin Concerto in E Minor Opus 64, Felix Mendelssohn.

This was a masterly performance by Ms Lee. The piece consisted of four sections Allegro molto appassionato; andante; allegretto no troppo and allegro molto vivace – with the varying pace displaying Ji Yoon's impressive musicianship.

What was lovely to see, also, was the interaction that Ms Lee had with the various sections of the orchestra and the conductor. As a consequence, the many facets of the performance came together as a perfect whole.

Following the interval the Philharmonia performed Serenade for String Orchestra, Edward Elgar and to close, Symphony No 3 in F Major, Johannes Brahms – a powerful, lyrical piece which traces harmonic moods through gentle lilting sections, to a powerful dramatic movement and finally serenity and resolution.

Judith Edwards
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