Twenty-three-year-old Singapore native Min Lee pinch-hits for noted Russian violinist Vadim Repin next weekend with the San Diego Symphony. Under the baton of Music Director Jahja Ling, she plays Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 35. The program also includes Anatol Liadov’s “Kikimora” and excerpts from Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
When Repin cancelled, Maestro Ling quickly performed what he calls “research and investigation.” Though he’s never played with Min Lee, she was recommended to him. He phoned his friend, conductor Vladimir Ashkenazi, with whom she had just recorded the Tchaikovsky Concerto with the London Philharmonia, and received his recommendation. Upon hearing the CD Ling reports, “I feel like it’s the Tchaikovsky I like to hear.”
Two additional facts clinched the deal. From 14 to 16 years old, Min attended Ling’s alma mater, Yale University, studying with the late, eminent pedagogue Erik Friedman, and she plays “a great violin,” the Guarneri del Gesu 1728. “That’s very special,” Ling said.
The Village News reached the peripatetic Min via e-mail.
“I just completed my bachelor’s at the University of Michigan last May,” she said. “I kind of did things backwards, doing my graduate degree first at Yale, then my bachelor’s.”
Asked how she balances the demands of the music business and her artistic integrity, Min said, “I’ve been playing the violin since I was 2 and performing since 5. At that age, I had only one goal, to play the best I could. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that while talent still plays a big part, there are so many other sides to the music business. From promotion, to dressing a certain way, to ‘crossovers,’ everybody has an opinion on how things should be “¦ I’ve always had professors that only cared about the music.
“I can also be pretty stubborn, so if somebody wants me to do something I’m not comfortable doing, I think I can hold my own.”
She’s been playing the Tchaikovsky piece since she was 13.
“Perhaps I have a special love for Russian music because my violin lineage leads back there,” she said, referring to her teacher Friedman, who was a pupil of two Russian masters, violinists Nathan Milstein and Jascha Heifetz. “Having the opportunity to work on it with Ashkenazy also gave me new insights into the work.”
Aside from career advancement, what are her goals and hopes? Where would she like to be 15 years hence?
“I’m not really good at planning out my life, but I hope I can look back 15 years from now and have no regrets,” she said. “I guess the most important things to me will still be my family and friends. Hopefully, Prince Charming will show up too, either on or off his horse is fine. I’m ready to see where life goes.”
The San Diego Symphony will perform with guest artist Min Lee at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 17 and 18, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19, at Copley Symphony Hall, 7th Ave. and B Street. Tickets are $20 to $85.
For tickets and information visit www.sandiegosymphony.com or call (619) 235-0804.
