OTTAWA—Two buddies, one a musician who splits his time between disco and 80s covers, the other the president of a financial company with offices across Canada, came to Shen Yun Performing Arts for a taste of something different on Tuesday night.
The crowd rose to their feet when the curtain fell, but in the intermission an hour before, Ken Craig and Steve Gabellini shared their thoughts on what they'd seen so far.
Ken Craig, the president and co-founder of Altaview Financial Group, said he was enjoying the spectacle of Shen Yun Performing Arts that night at the National Arts Centre.
“We got great seats, right up at the front there.”
Mr. Craig said he liked the music and dancing, but especially the overall presentation of the show.
Mr. Craig’s company started in Ottawa but now has offices in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and Halifax.
“The music was good. I think it’s a good show. I like it.”
Friend Steve Gabellini, a self-described “multi-faceted individual,” also said that he was finding the show very enjoyable.
“I think it’s very entertaining. It’s the first time here.”
Mr. Gabellini is a singer, piano player, songwriter, drummer and guitar player. Mr. Craig noted that his friend plays in two bands, Disco Inferno and Soundstorm.
“I like the baritone. He had a very powerful voice. It was very compelling,” Mr. Gabellini praised baritone Qu Yue.
He also said that he found Shen Yun’s orchestra compelling.
“It’s very, very exciting. It’s very vibrant. You can hear it perfectly wherever you’re sitting. It was very nice.”
Shen Yun’s orchestra combines East and West in a unique fusion, featuring a philharmonic orchestra being led by melodies played on traditional Chinese instruments.
Mr. Gabellini said this was a new experience for him and kept his attention, stirring a mixture of emotions.
“I think it’s fabulous. It’s great. They’ve got a really nice flow going.”
Shen Yun’s orchestra accompanies a large group of dancers performing ethnic dances from China’s diverse ethnicities and folk dances of the majority Han ethnicity. But the heart of the evening’s performance was classical Chinese dance, a tradition passed down in the imperial courts of China, dynasty after dynasty.
“I think it’s very professional, very well orchestrated, well put together, nicely interpreted.”
He said he would recommend the show. “Absolutely, 100 percent,” Mr. Gabellini said.
Reporting by NTD Television and Matthew Little
Shen Yun has three companies touring the world. The Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company will perform at the National Arts Centre Dec. 19–23. For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
