MINNEAPOLIS—“It was extraordinary—the choreography and the orchestration were excellent,” said Michael Gleisberg after attending Shen Yun. “It was really well choreographed, well put together, with a good balance throughout the whole performance, from start to finish. I thought it was excellent.”

On March 27, musician Michael Gleisberg and his wife, Nadine Gleisberg, attended Shen Yun’s opening performance at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. The production’s unique blend of artistic forms left a strong impression on Mr. Gleisberg, who noted that it was “not a concert … not a play … not an opera—it’s a bit of each.”

A former professional percussionist who now performs at a school and sings with a church choir, Mr. Gleisberg said he was particularly struck by the musical composition. “I’m a musician, so I appreciate the orchestration. It was incredible,” he said.

Reflecting on the live orchestra, Mr. Gleisberg added that the musicians demonstrated a high level of artistry. “I think all of the instrumentalists used all of their abilities,” he said, noting in particular, “the first violinist was outstanding—I kind of kept an eye on her.”

Mr. Gleisberg also praised the vocal performances. “The voices were excellent, and they were amplified correctly,” he said. “I could hear the tenor quality and the range clearly. They did a great job with the amplification.”

Ms. Gleisberg, a retired visual arts teacher, said she thoroughly enjoyed the performance. “I loved the performance. I loved so many traditional dances. It was delightful!” she exclaimed. “I loved the costumes, the stage presentation, and how smoothly it transitioned into the screen behind. That was amazing!”

Ms. Gleisberg was especially impressed by the production’s use of color and visual design. “The palette had nice contrast—it was easy to see the details, very nice,” she said.

One moment, in particular, stood out to her. “There was one moment—I didn’t see how the actor made it happen—but it looked like he just flew right into the screen. It was so good,” she said.

Mr. Gleisberg also highlighted the role of the digital backdrop in enhancing the performance. “The background really extended the scene and enhanced the presentation,” he said.

Echoing that sentiment, Ms. Gleisberg described the overall effect as greater than the sum of its parts. “The whole performance was enhanced by being together,” she said.

The couple both shared that Shen Yun stands apart for its originality and artistic integration. “Great production, great choreography, and just an overall great presentation,” Mr. Gleisberg said. “Something very different.”