LOS ANGELES—“I like the combination of the traditional Chinese instruments and the Western European orchestra. It’s fun and interesting,” said composer and engineer Eddie King, of the Shen Yun Performing Arts Orchestra.
“I figured there would be a large gong in there and wasn’t disappointed,” he said.
Mr. King was at the Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company’s Jan.14 performance on Saturday afternoon at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Mr. King has numerous credits to his name, both as composer for major networks in both the United States and internationally, and as mix engineer who has worked on numerous platinum and gold albums. He is also the chief engineer for the Megatrax music library.
“The orchestra is great. They are playing very well together and having a lot of fun,” he said.
The Shen Yun website describes the orchestra: “A Western philharmonic orchestra plays the foundation, while traditional Chinese instruments lead the melodies. The sound produced is uniquely pleasing to the ear. The ensemble at once expresses both the grandeur of a Western orchestra and the distinct sensibilities of China’s 5,000-year-old civilization.”
Mr. King attended the New York-based company’s show with some friends, including Lisa Korn, who works in music publishing.
“I’m enjoying the show very much. The costumes are beautiful, color. The dancers are in perfect unison. I think it’s great,” she said.
She also does some ballet dancing herself. When asked about the classical Chinese dance in the show, she replied, “It’s beautiful, very, very graceful ... Everybody is in complete unison, right down to the turn of their head or a flick of the wrist.”
Reporting by Lu Rusong and Ben Bendig.
Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will next perform in San Diego Jan 19-22.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
