BOSTON—Alda Oliveira, a pro pianist and music educator, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Citi Wang Theatre, Mar. 2, together with her husband Gamary, who is a composer.
“I loved this show,” Ms. Oliveira said. ”The musicians are very talented."
“I loved it. It’s easy to watch, and it’s quite different too,” said Mr. Gamary.
New York-based Shen Yun revives China’s rich 5,000-year-old culture, displaying ancient legends, ethnic dances, and classical Chinese dance, as well as scenes from contemporary life in China. The performances are accompanied by a classical Western orchestra that also includes traditional Chinese instruments.
Ms. Oliveira enjoyed the music that accompanies the dances. “I loved the orchestra with the combination of Chinese instruments and the Western instruments,” she said.
Ms. Oliveira is a founding member of the Brazilian Association of Music Education (ABEM) and an active member of the International Society for Music Education (ISME). She completed her Masters degree in Composition and Music Education at Tufts University, in Medford, Boston, and her PhD in Music Education at The University of Texas at Austin.
“I loved the Chinese instruments. I think they are very expressive. I just loved the girl playing ... the string instrument. That was very beautiful,” she said, referring to the two-stringed Chinese violin, the “erhu.”
Being a musician herself, Ms. Oliveira could also connect with the vocal performers who sing Chinese lyrics in bel canto style. She especially liked the tenor. “He was amazing. Strong. The register is very broad and he’s very expressive. I liked it.”
The Chinese lyrics are translated and projected on screen using subtitles. Here is what Mr. Oliveira took away from the texts, which portray a spiritual message.
“I was great. I liked the message, because nowadays the new generation needs to think about spirituality. So it is a very neat idea to have these words and the message of freedom, the message of care, of calm.”
Her husband agreed with his wife. “It was quite poetic. It seemed almost like a dream. It was great. I loved it.”
Ms. Oliveira was especially impressed by the digital backdrop, an example of Shen Yun’s combination of old and new. “When the individuals come from heaven and they come from the sea—it’s beautiful.”
Blending projection technology with ancient culture, Shen Yun’s animated backdrop presents scenes from celestial palaces to Tang Dynasty pavilions, giving audiences insights into China’s long history. The backdrop aids in the storytelling, allowing performers to move from stage to screen.
Shen Yun will have a positive influence on society, Ms. Oliveira said. “It’s a very good feeling and I welcome people in Brazil and in America to watch this kind of performance.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Valentin Schmid
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visitShen Yun Performing Arts.
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.
