Trey Lee. Photo by Alan Lai

Tomorrow evening, renowned cellist Trey Lee will lead the Musicus Soloists Hong Kong (MSHK) in a crossover concert that blends classical string repertoire with dazzling visual artistry by young performing artist Chris Lam.

Hailed as a “miracle” by Gramophone, Lee captivates audiences with a virtuosity that combines intellectual sophistication and profound emotional depth. The late conductor Lorin Maazel praised him as “a marvelous protagonist, a superb cellist” after performing with him and the Philharmonia Orchestra. 

His Carnegie Hall debut at Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage earned a standing ovation, with New York Times critic Anthony Tommasini applauding his “enveloping richness and lyrical sensitivity.”

The Musicus Soloists Hong Kong. Photo courtesy of Shenzhen Concert Hall

Continually expanding the expressive possibilities of the cello, Lee has rearranged works including Astor Piazzolla’s “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires,” which he will perform for local audiences tomorrow.

Lee is a laureate of several major international competitions, including First Prize at the International Antonio Janigro Cello Competition. He performs on the 1703 “Comte de Gabriac” cello crafted by Venetian master luthier Matteo Goffriller.

A co-founder of MSHK in 2022, Lee leads an ensemble of musicians who are themselves accomplished soloists. The members — alumni of leading institutions across North America and Europe and winners of international competitions — perform in varied formations, presenting a broad repertoire from Baroque works to modern masters such as Arvo Pärt.

Minna Pensola. Photo by Tero Ahonen

The concert will also feature award-winning Finnish violinist Minna Pensola, a faculty member at the Sibelius Academy. She will perform on a 1732 Carlo Bergonzi violin on loan from the Signe ja Ane Gyllenberg Foundation.

The program opens with Vivaldi’s “Concerto for Violin and Cello in F Major,” a Baroque masterpiece showcasing exquisite polyphonic writing. The solo parts — performed by Lee and Pensola — intertwine in rapid passagework and lyrical melodies, creating an unforgettable soundscape.

Next, audiences will hear Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5 in C Minor” in an arrangement for string orchestra by Carl Friedrich Ebers. Premiered in 1808, the Fifth Symphony is celebrated for its structural clarity, heroic character, and grand expressive intensity.

Chris Lam. Photo courtesy of Shenzhen Concert Hall

Multimedia artist Chris Lam will then join the ensemble for Satie’s “Gymnopédies,” using crystal balls and other props to create a magical, visual interpretation of the music’s flow.

The concert culminates with Piazzolla’s “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires,” rearranged and performed by Lee. Here, the cello takes center stage — from the fiery passion of summer to the introspective chill of winter, its resonant voice will channel the soul of Piazzolla’s “nuevo tango.”

Audiences are invited on a journey to rediscover their inner poetry and tranquility through the serene yet stirring voice of the cello.

Tickets: 80-480 yuan

Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 5

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音乐厅)   

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children's Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D