DALLAS—Shen Yun Performing Arts continued to amaze the audience at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas with its second performance on Saturday evening, Dec. 17. Among the spectators were John Toia, Director of Production at the Winspear and his wife Eva Toia.
“It’s very beautiful, gorgeous, and well done. It’s extremely professional,” Mr. Toia said.
Mr. Toia, whose credits include Tosca for Opera Carolina and King John for the New York Shakespeare Festival, decided to attend the performance with his wife, after catching a brief glimpse of rehearsal.
“I’m ... fascinated by the visual imagery of the production—colors, the dance, the movement,” he listed.
“And the costumes are so beautiful,” added Mrs. Toia.
Mr Toia said that the ‘rich’ colors together with the combination of colors were different from the colors he was accustomed to seeing in the performing arts.
It was also an experience to be able to listen live to the genre of music played by the Shen Yun Performing Arts Orchestra, he said.
Shen Yun’s orchestra combines a unique blend of Chinese and Western instruments.
“I don’t get to hear this type of music often, Mr. Toia said.
“You hear it recorded (but) you don’t get a chance to hear it performed live.”
Mrs. Toia is Director of Development for the Dallas Wind Symphony and has a background in stage lighting as well. She was very impressed with the overall performance.
“It’s rare to find ... high-tech, current technology like that—high-definition backdrop—blend well with simple storytelling.
“It was beautiful, the lighting was just exquisite,” she said.
The New York-based company’s performances are accompanied by an animated, digital backdrop depicting bright and colorful scenes.
The couple were amazed by the rich stories drawn from the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.
Mrs Toia was particularly touched by storytelling that was expressed through the movement of the dancers.
“It’s so beautiful. The movement is so precise and yet so delicate.
“The story is given to you so beautifully with the history. Very expressive, so beautifully expressive,” she added.
Mr Toia summed up China’s 5,000 years of civilization, “Fascinating. It’s why I chose to come—to see the culture.”
With reporting by Kevin Peng and Catherine Yang
Shen Yun will perform at Winspear Opera House through Sunday, Dec. 18. For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
