Mr. Hosman had just returned from China where he had completed an important project.

“I’ve been so impressed with the orchestra. It sounds fantastic. And they have … the erhu and the pipa and all the different [traditional] instruments that I’m really familiar with, and they’re so in tune,” said Mr. Hosman.

“I kept on telling my wife that’s live music … because it sounds so good and so in tune and well played,” he said.

“I can’t figure out how they did it. Because it’s exact. I mean, the timing is in fact is incredible,” he said.

The portrayal was “very moving,” he said. He also commended the performers.

Mr. Karwath had booked tickets but halfway through the performance he and his wife were asked to leave. They found they had actually bought tickets for the previous day’s performance. The couple was devastated but good luck stepped in as the theatre staff stepped up and found them seats near the orchestra in what was a full house.

“I felt extremely moved, moved to do something, something more. Not sit on the sideline,” he said.

Chinese traditional society was based on teachings that were believed to have been passed from heavenly beings to earthly mortals.

“I’m really moved to do research, and honestly become a supporter in whatever way I can, because [the performance] is just that moving. It’s a powerful message. The whole purpose, the whole philosophy, the whole story is all genuine. That’s unique in this day and age. I think it resonates with people who are genuine people and who care,” said Mr. Karwath.

“What I really loved about [Shen Yun is that] you can sense the drive,” she said. “There is an urgency. There is a real subtle way to bring a message but in a surrounding of celebration of life,” she said.

“It’s really hard to bring a hard message, then surround it with hope, and with joy.  I understood it at a spiritual level, but it’s really hard to put it into words.”