MONTREAL, Canada—Listening to the music of Shen Yun Performing Arts was a unique experience for classical musician Scott Chancey, who watched Shen Yun at the Place des Arts in Montreal on Jan. 9.
“I love the music,” he said in an interview at intermission. Mr. Chancey, who is a viola player, has been part of a number of symphony orchestras over the span of his career. Most recently he has been playing with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra on occasion.
Attending Shen Yun was a new experience for Mr. Chancey. New York-based Shen Yun presents classical Chinese dance and music. The music of Shen Yun is performed by a live orchestra that accompanies the dance performances, and consists of both classical Western instruments and traditional Chinese instruments.
Mr. Chancey said he really appreciated the new experience.
“I actually enjoyed that very much...I enjoy [the] mix,” he said.
Besides the music, the dance performances also stood out to Mr. Chancey.
“It’s also a very good experience to see all the dancing; I would say it’s an excellent show…I would say it was a great experience and I would go again,” he said.
Coming to see the performance with Mr. Chancey was Ian Beard, who is also a musician. Mr. Beard is currently a student at the Université de Montréal, specializing in composing.
“I like the melodies—they are really nice,” said Mr. Beard of Shen Yun’s music. “The traditional Chinese instruments totally make it stand out.”
Mr. Beard also praised the synchronization between the music, the dances, and the backdrops in the performance.
“I think it’s really well synchronized, especially with the screen in the back [backdrops]…it’s so well timed and the music fits with the dance, which fits with what’s going on the screen; I’m quite impressed.”
Shen Yun, Mr. Chancey said, is “like a taste of the other side of the world.”
“It’s a nice escape you know—it really transports you to ancient China.”
Formed in 2006, Shen Yun was established by a group of leading classical Chinese artists with a mission to revive China’s divinely inspired culture.
With reporting by Xie Deping
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun’s World Company finished its Montreal performances on Thursday and will now go on to Hamilton, Ontario. 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.
