SAN JOSE, Calif.—A CEO from the Netherlands says Shen Yun Performing Arts “is mesmerizing.”
Among the audience, there were visitors from the Netherlands, Michiel Van der Kaaij, who works as a director at Kunstvereniging Diepenheim, and Walter Groenen, CEO of CJP, which help introduce young Europeans to cultural events. Both enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts’ Jan. 4 matinee at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts.
Mr. Van der Kaaij was inspired by the Shen Yun orchestra.
“Very great,” he said. “It was an interesting combination of Eastern and Western. I would like to hear more of it.”
“Violins on one side, with the Eastern instruments on the other side,” he said, “does a nice mixture.”
Shen Yun’s website states, “Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra blends the spirit of Chinese music with the power of a Western orchestra. All-original compositions draw upon five millennia of culture and legends. Western strings, percussion, woodwinds, and brass accentuate the sound of ancient Chinese instruments—like the two stringed erhu and the plucked pipa.”
Mr. Van der Kaaij also enjoyed the Shen Yun’s renowned solo soprano vocalists.
“The ladies singing was also a part traditional European and traditional Chinese, and it was a nice combination,” said Mr. Van der Kaaij.
Shen Yun’s website elaborates on the vocal music of Shen Yun:
“The primary trait that distinguishes the singers of Shen Yun is their use of bel canto technique to sing Chinese text. This means that the singer must, while continuing to meet the challenges inherent in bel canto technique, retain proper Chinese pronunciation and diction.”
Mr. Walter Groenen had very little exposure to traditional Chinese culture, but left the performance with a positive impression.
“It’s completely new,” said Mr. Groenen regarding Shen Yun’s presentation of 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture. “I’m not familiar with the Chinese dance or Chinese culture whatsoever, so it’s very interesting to have a first positive impression. Thank you!”
Mr. Groenen recalled the dance The Fable of the Magic Brush, in which, Shen Yun’s program book explains, “In a seaside village, a young painter befriends a mysterious maiden and defends her from a band of ruffians. In gratitude, she gives him a magical brush that turns anything it paints into reality.”
“I liked the dance of the magic brush,” Mr. Groenen said, “because it’s a fairy tale, and it was very nice with the video projection. And that was well done.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Abraham Thompson
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
