TAIPEI, Taiwan—Sitting in Zhongshan Hall on Oct. 3, a Taiwanese businessman was overwhelmed by not just the musicians of the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra he saw and heard on the stage,but also the radiant smiles on the faces of those in the audience.
“Not only did I find the beauty of divine beings from the faces of dedicated performers on the stage, but I also found it on the cheerful faces of everyone sitting in the audience,” said Liu Chih-yuan, general manager of Power Sleep, a mattress-making company in Taiwan.
“I see ‘Shen Yun’ on their faces,” said a smiling Mr. Liu.
The name “Shen Yun” is roughly translated as “the beauty of divine beings dancing.” Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra and its parent company, Shen Yun Performing Arts, aspire to revive and showcase authentic culture from China’s 5,000 years of ancient civilization.
Mr. Liu said that “it purified his soul.”
“It allows people to think and reflect in a more comprehensive way,” he said.
Mr. Liu saw the second to last of Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s performances during its 18-day tour in Taiwan. The New York-based company will go on to perform across North America, with its 2016 seasonal debut set for Oct. 15 in New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Mr. Liu said that he was especially touched by two pieces that had ties to Taiwan, “Green Mountain” and “Taiwan Dance.” Both feature the island’s aboriginal folk melodies.
In addition to all-original Chinese compositions, the symphony orchestra also brings its audience Western classics, such as “Hungarian Dance No. 5” and “Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, No. 8.”
Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra blends the musical traditions of east and west. Ancient Chinese instruments are played alongside a full Western orchestra—a combination that Mr. Liu said had a “healing power” and could help people “be tranquil and peaceful.”
Reporting by Frank Fang and Billy Shyu
New York-based Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra comprises musicians from the four Shen Yun Performing Arts touring companies. For information about the October performances, visit: ShenYun.com/Symphony
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the company’s inception in 2006.
