This was an ambitious program for a semi-professional orchestra, which set itself the goal of matching the brilliance of young piano sensation Shuan Hern Lee in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 5 in the first half, then tackling Shostakovich’s monumental Fifth Symphony after the interval.

The orchestra lifted itself magnificently to the standard set by Lee, a former child prodigy who at the age of just 19 is already established on the international concert stage, having starred with orchestras in Russia and Kazakhstan as well as nationally.

Shuan Hern Lee and the Darwin Symphony Orchestra. Photo © Tim Nicol.

The Perth-born soloist – who dazzled the judges with his flying fingers on Australia’s Got Talent at age seven – proved electrifying in his performance of the much-loved ‘Emperor’ Concerto. With his freedom of expression, he could be as sweet and lyrical as he liked and then create a wall of sound with his phenomenal finger work.

As exhilarated as the audience was by the grandeur of Lee’s playing, the orchestra was even more inspired, uniting in the tightness of their performance to be worthy of Lee’s...