MIAMI—Listening to the performance of Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra for the first time moved Enrique Sanchez to tears.
“I found something unusual and something so beautiful from the heart—it came out,” said Mr. Sanchez, a human resources manager, who saw the performance on Oct. 25 at Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center Knight Concert Hall.
“I can tell that everybody was playing from the heart. And we can feel that, their heart,” he added.
According to Shen Yun’s website, Shen Yun means “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” and the New York-based company aims to revive ancient China’s divinely inspired culture through the performing arts.
The Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra consists of musicians from Shen Yun Performing Arts’ four touring companies, which feature classical Chinese dance and music. The orchestra is unique in that it combines instruments from both the ancient Chinese and classical Western traditions.
“Accentuating the beauty of ancient Chinese instruments amidst the grandeur of a Western symphony, Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra is restoring the glorious heritage of ancient Chinese melodies, blazing a brand-new path in the world of classical music,” states the company’s website.
“We loved it—so much heart” said Mr. Sanchez, who attended the performance with his best friend. “It’s so beautiful, so enjoyable.”
Mr. Sanchez said the use of traditional Chinese instruments in the Western orchestra was a completely new experience for him, yet he found nostalgia in the sound of Chinese instruments such as the two-stringed erhu and the pipa.
“I know that I cried a couple of times. It’s so beautiful, so enjoyable,” he said. “I didn’t expect this [emotional response] because it’s so unfamiliar. I found something unusual and something so beautiful from the heart.”
“I just love that,” he said, adding that he became very emotional during the erhu performance.
Mr. Sanchez was also intrigued to learn that Shen Yun Performing Arts presents classical Chinese dance. He said he would like to attend the upcoming performances when Shen Yun visits Florida. From December to April, Shen Yun will perform in nine Florida cities, with the first being Fort Lauderdale, Dec. 26–28.
Reporting by NTD Television
New York-based Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra comprises musicians from the four Shen Yun Performing Arts touring companies. Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time.
The orchestra’s North American tour runs through Oct. 27. For more information, visit http://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/symphony
