Hong Kong pianist Colleen Lee offers strength and lyricism in Russian repertoire

The city's sole International Chopin Piano Competition medallist has a muscular side to her musicianship that goes beyond the usual refined lyricism.

Colleen Lee Ka-ling - who in 2005 won 6th prize at the prestigious contest held in Poland every five years - performed her first all-Russian repertoire with power and resilience that belied her diminutive physique.

Sailing through challenging passages with clarity, she reflected overflowing confidence and discipline.

But her faithful reading of the scores deprived the performance of singularity, especially the strong Russian flavour that legendary masters had shown in recordings.

Lee began the ambitious programme with Tchaikovsky's Seasons, a 40-minute suite depicting various moods and scenes from January to December.