AUSTIN, Texas—In a city famous for its music, the Shen Yun orchestra won high praise. “I’m just on cloud nine,” said musician Stuart Millsapps. “I really enjoyed the show.”
Mr. Millsapps, a drummer, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts on Dec. 30 at the Long Center. Naturally, as a musician, he was interested in the unique orchestra of the dance company. “It was a very diverse orchestra, it was amazing. I loved it.”
In Shen Yun’s orchestra, Eastern and Western instruments play together, from violins and cellos to French horns and clarinets to the erhu, pipa and suona.
Mr. Millsaps said he responded emotionally to the music. He said, “I’m sorry I can’t be more specific and analytical about it; it was wonderful, wonderful.”
He and his wife and a writer friend were in good seats. His only regret was, “We were sitting very close, so I wish I could have seen the musicians playing, but hearing it was wonderful.” His wife, Leah Millsaps, originally from Taiwan, said, “We both really enjoyed it.” It was the first time they had seen it.
Shen Yun is based in New York and was founded in 2006 with the mission of reviving 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture, according to its website. The artists of Shen Yun take to heart an ancient Chinese belief: that to create true art, there must first be inner beauty, according to Shen Yun’s program book. Many draw inspiration from traditional Chinese culture, and its five cardinal virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness.
“It brought many emotions,” said Mr. Millsapps. “The performance was very deep.”
Writer Steven Hood accompanied the couple. He, too, seemed to have responded emotionally like his friends. He said, “It was an amazing show, an amazing performance. I was really impressed. Sublime.”
Mr. Hood said he admired the performance and particularly appreciated the harmony between the digital backdrops and the dancers.
“Very artistic and beautiful—the integration of the background with the dancers was phenomenal,” Mr. Hood said.
With reporting by Amy Hu and Zack Stieber
Shen Yun has three companies touring the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will next perform in San Francisco from Jan. 3 to Jan. 8.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts
