The first concert of Maidstone Symphony Orchestra’s new season comprised three Russian works.

The star of the evening was Taek-Gi Lee, 19.

Rachmaninov’s third piano concerto is notoriously challenging but Lee’s playing was measured, poised and extraordinarily mature for one so young especially in the spectacular first movement cadenza, the luxuriant velvety adagio and the dramatic dive into the finale.

Slight and straight-backed in neatly buttoned dark suit Lee wowed the audience with his technical prowess – small hands and lithe fingers often moving in a rapid blur - and, afterwards with boyish modesty.

Conductor, Brian Wright, always musically very supportive of young soloists, ensured that the orchestra provided a well balanced accompaniment.

The concert opened with three dances from Khachaturian’s Gayane including the famous Sabre Dance. Its raw excitement wove high speed magic with manic xylophone and woodwind, and vamping strings.

Scheherazade, the final work in the programme, requires huge forces – six percussionists, harp and extra brass and woodwind.

Brian Wright allowed his players – especially the flute, piccolo, trumpets and string soloists Robin Brightman and Angela Migden – to find and run with all those lovely orchestral colours and tonal contrasts.

I shall long treasure, for example, the exquisite passage in the second movement in which a bassoon melody is underpinned by long low notes from double basses.

And it’s a real treat to hear those sorts of details coming through with clarity. At the same time there’s a lot of rich long-bowed string ensemble work in Scheherazade and this performance did it real justice.

MSO's next concert on 28 November features the cellist and BBC Young Musician, Laura van der Heijden. For details see www.mso.org.uk

- Susan Elkin