Music Professionals Amazed as Shen Yun Performing Arts Opens in San Diego (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) As part of its 2010 world tour, Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company opened the first of seven shows at the San Diego Civic Theatre on Saturday, December 26.

Mr. Natker, a conductor of a musical production company, was in the audience and expressed his delight. "I thought the dancers and performers were all wonderful--beautifully trained, and it was all just beautifully executed," he said. "All very fine and the costumes were just a delight to look at. I enjoyed [it] very much."

Mr. Natker (L) and Mr. Montgomery (R) at the San Diego Civic Theatre Saturday evening.

One of the many unique aspects of Shen Yun is that its orchestra combines classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments.

As a professional musician, Mr. Natker was intrigued and inspired by this. He commented, "combining the Western music--particularly since I'm a conductor--combining a Western orchestra with Chinese instruments, traditional Chinese instruments, it's ... first of all, it's very interesting to me as a musician. But it's also, as an observer of culture, I think it's a wonderful thing to see and it points a way to the future. Putting together classical [Chinese] instruments and classical Western instruments is a way to the future as a musician."

Mr. Natker greatly appreciated the insight into classical Chinese culture Shen Yun brings. He said, "I have always had a fascination for Chinese culture and having the opportunity to have this part of it brought to the United States in this way and to tour around the United States is a very positive thing. It's something that's necessary. The better we know each other, the better things will be in the future.

"Because, we learn from each other and we benefit from each other's culture. There are things that we have one way of doing in the West that in China was done a completely different way. And as artists, the more vocabulary we have to express ourselves the better we do."

Artistic Director: 'The whole production is quite spectacular!'

Mr. Montgomery, artistic director for a musical production company, was moved by the performances. He said, "The whole production is quite spectacular and very, very enjoyable. And also, a lot of variety. There was a good pace with a lot of things that were very energetic and up and active, but also some very contemplative things as well. And I love the instrumentation of the orchestra and the soloist as well. I thought it was very good. It was a very interesting evening."

Mr. Montgomery noted the innovative way the performances were presented. "I loved the projected scenery--I thought scenically, that was all very interesting; especially with the animated film elements of it as well."

He felt that the training and precision of the performers was both inspiring and wonderful. Mr. Montgomery added that Shen Yun is a marvelous show and recommended it, "I suggest it's wonderful family entertainment. It's wonderfully made," he said.

Music Professor and Family Highly Impressed

The Ung family on Saturday night, Dec. 26, at the San Diego Civic Theatre

Dr. Ung, a professor of music at a leading San Diego University who originally came from Cambodia, said he really enjoyed the performance. "They are really wonderful performers--dancers, musicians, I like that." Dr. Ung attended the show with his entire family.

Dr. Ung commented that he thought the conductor of the full orchestra did a great job.

The Shen Yun Performing Arts Orchestra combines Western and Chinese musical instruments to create a unique and beautiful sound. Currently it is the world's only orchestra that permanently embraces both Western and Chinese instruments together. All of the music the orchestra plays is original and composed to fit with each dance.

Dr. Ung also enjoyed the powerful music created by the two-stringed traditional Chinese erhu, with its otherworldly quality that stirs the soul as few instruments can.

Mrs. Ung, who plays the viola, said the show was very finely performed. "I thought it was very professionally done. It was enjoyable for me. And I've studied Chinese classical music actually. It was interesting. It was very well done. It's definitely worth seeing! I enjoyed the dancing just as much as the music too."

One of their daughters, Kalean, also said she really enjoyed it. "It's the first time I've ever seen Chinese dancing. It was very exciting for me. I used to dance. I used to take classical ballet," she said.

Kalean was also impressed by the Shen Yun Orchestra. "I thought it was amazing that they combined the Western and Eastern instruments. . . It was very interesting for me to see that combination as a whole."

Continuing, she said: "I loved the dance. It was amazing. ... I was very impressed by the variety of things ... It was very beautiful. I really thought the Handkerchief piece was stunning; it's amazing what they did--Yes, it was fun."

Another daughter, Sonika, also said she loved the show. She is a violinist and was moved by the erhu solo, Saving the Predestined. "I thought it was just amazing, really incredible, skillful playing. That really impressed me."

She said, "I studied Chinese dance a little bit," and added that she enjoyed the Tibetan Dance of Praise.

Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/27028/ and http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/27026/ .