Mr. Kitaev has recently returned to Oregon from an international tour. (Nataly Teplitsky/The Epoch Times)
Mr. Kitaev, an internationally renowned classical jazz pianist, was in the audience.
After getting his classical music education from the best musical college in Moscow, Mr. Kitaev "fell in love with jazz," as he put it. But in the early seventies, in Russia, he could not play jazz music from the world behind the “iron curtain.” The young pianist had to leave his homeland and go overseas to pursue his calling.
A couple of years later, Mr. Kitaev was highly praised by Phil Elwood, a beloved Bay Area jazz and blues critic in the San Francisco Examiner as a “warm and technically brilliant pianist … a truly magnificent addition to our … jazz scene.”
Now living in Portland, Mr. Kitaev has recently returned to Oregon from the international tour through European countries including France, Spain, Russia, as well as Moroccan classical jazz festival.
He said at intermission: “We all know that due to the development of modern technology, the world’s people are becoming closer and closer. Diverse nations are sharing their traditions with each other. An educated person has a pretty good idea about the variety of cultures in the world.”
Mr. Kitaev remarked, “Asian cultures still remain an enigma to many people in the West. They feel it difficult to comprehend the depths of spirit of these strong, wise, ancient, and mysterious nations.”
Mr. Kitaev expressed his "sincere gratitude to the Shen Yun Company for sharing their art with us today. Chinese cultural heritage was presented in an extremely bright, dynamic, and enthralling form that could be perceived not only by worldly, wise professors of arts but also by everyday people and even kids.”
The New York-based Shen Yun presents China's 5,000-year divinely inspired culture featuring world-class dancers, highly acclaimed musicians and vocalists that are integrated with stunning digitally animated backdrop scenes.
He said that Shen Yun's “instrumental and vocal pieces were very impressive and highly professional.”
The Shen Yun orchestra uses classical Western instruments as its foundation, and also includes traditional Chinese instruments. Its members include elite musicians from around the world.
Mr. Kitaev concluded that he was “happy to get to know this amazing ensemble and hoped that it would honor Portland with more performances in the future.”
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts Spring Tour 2009. For more information please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
