A great amateur of the Arts, the Count particularly liked the cultural richness of the show and the unity of its artists.
Shen Yun, “has at heart to represent the values and the history of these Asian countries, as there is China, there is Taiwan etc. We see this desire to give the true story and the true colour that we would want to see appear today.”
Maybe even more notably, the musical aesthete was captured by the Shen Yun International Company Orchestra, which mixes ancient Asian and contemporary Western instruments.
“For someone such as myself who is a musician, its extraordinary, magnificent, to hear music played live, to have a conductor—a woman in addition. It’s very rare and very good!
“There are absolutely magnificent tones and it’s also very well-orchestrated. This musical writing ... not only are there no mistakes in the harmony, but they also know how to make the instruments sing, they know how to put modernity in it while respecting ancient intervals and modes, ancient writing,” the Count expounded.
“Very often with Asia, and especially China, they embroider a lot musically--to do things in the style of such and such. Here, however, it was not in the style of [anyone]. It was with precise themes, precise intervals, we could only do this 1,000 or 2,000 years ago.
“It’s intelligently orchestrated and harmonised to bring a touch of modernity, as we are in the 21st century.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world with a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture.
Reporting by Aurélien Girard.
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company will perform at The London Coliseum, April 12-15.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
