TAIPEI, Taiwan—Eighteen hundred Shen Yun fans filled the auditorium of Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall in Taipei on March 20 to watch the extravaganza of the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, the world-renowned classical Chinese dance company, who has as its mission the revival of ancient China’s 5,000-year cultural heritage.
Professor Wang Shi-rong, an award-winning pipa artist who teaches at the Department of Traditional Music of Taipei National University of the Arts, said he found the performance “pleasing and refreshing.”
Mr. Wang enjoyed the collection of short pieces in which the audience “travels from the Himalayas to tropical lake-filled regions; from the highest heavens down to the dusty plateaus of the Middle Kingdom,” according to the company’s website.
“It is very intense and the design of the pieces conveys the special features of Chinese culture. The lighting was excellent and makes for a very pleasing performance,” he said.
“The matching of the colors, especially the brilliant colors of the costumes of the minority ethnic groups, are very appealing,” he added.
He had particularly enjoyed Dance of the Qiang People, saying, “The costumes are incredibly beautiful!”
Mr Wang was impressed by the synchronization of the group dances. “I think their dances come with extreme precision! Magnificent and perfect. The artists must have strict trainings.”
Shen Yun’s one-of-a-kind orchestra, with its all-original compositions, blends East and West like no other. The distinctly Chinese sound of ancient instruments like the erhu and the pipa are bathed in a rich sea of Western strings, percussion, woodwinds, and brass. The result—two great classical music traditions producing one fresh, unexpected sound, states the company’s website.
“I very much enjoyed the blending of the two kinds of musical instruments. Such style of music can convey a certain kind of message to the audience.”
The company also boasts award-winning tenors, sopranos and other vocalists who perform piano-accompanied solos.
Mr. Wang found the lyrics of the songs to have unique meaning. “They are very touching. The words are simple but the meanings are deep and profound. Very effective and convincing.”
Mr. Wang is an award-winning pipa artist in Taiwan. At one time he was the chair pipa player of National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan. His performance album won the 20th Golden Melody Award, The Best Album of Traditional Music.
Reporting by Dai De-Man and Lin Hsin-Yi.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will perform in seven cities in Taiwan until April 8 and then continue to top venues in Australia and New Zealand.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
Read the original Chinese article
