(Clearwisdom.net) At the beginning of the New Year, the U.S.-based Divine Performing Arts (DPA) New York Company performed four shows in three days at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. DPA showcased the essence of China's 5,000 years of traditional culture and the oriental arts that features complete compassion and sublime beauty. Local government officials, celebrities and artists had high praise for the lavish production.
Musicologist: A successful blend of Chinese and Western music
Dr. Elaine Keillor was among the artists who were wowed by the DPA show at the National Arts Centre on January 3, 2009. She commended the show, and called it "a wonderful spectacle." She said, "I was so pleased to see classical Chinese dance so well featured. It was lovely to have the ribbon dance, one of the ones that's so well known and beautifully done."
Dr. Keillor, musicologist
Dr. Keillor was glad to see different aspects of Chinese culture featured in the DPA show, and was also impressed by the caliber of the singers and performers in the live orchestra. Dr. Keillor commended the success of the show in achieving a blend of Chinese and Western instruments.
Dr. Keillor was the first woman to receive a doctorate in musicology from the University of Toronto and holds the record as the youngest recipient of the Associate degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music with all of the theory exams completed by age 10. She has performed in recitals and as soloist with orchestra on piano and harpsichord throughout North America and in Europe and has lectured on Baroque, Classical periods, Canadian music, ethnomusicology, keyboard performance and literature.
Dr. Keillor was the 2004 Helmut Kallmann Award recipient for distinguished service relating to music.
Theater Producer: The DPA show is superb, all nuances are beautiful
Ms. King, a theater producer and event organizer visiting from London, England, attended the final DPA show in Ottawa on the afternoon of January 4. Ms. King had high praise for DPA's brilliant presentation of Chinese culture and art. Ms. King is visiting her parents in Ottawa over the New Year's holiday. Her father bought tickets to the show for her and her mother for Christmas.
Ms. King, a theater producer and event organizer visiting from London, England, at the final DPA show in Ottawa
Ms. King commended the show, saying, "It was tremendous. The visuals were absolutely tremendous. I thought the performances were superb, but I really thought that one of the best things was the costumes." "The design and mix of colors were beautifully done," she added. As for the solo musicians, she found the tenor's voice was "tremendous [and] absolutely different from anyone I've heard," she said. The DPA orchestra combines the great classical traditions of Chinese and Western music. Ms. King thought "it really crossed the divide very well. It was very understandable for Western people."
Among the 20 program segments, Ms. King particularly enjoyed the dance that celebrated the legendary Udumbara flower of Buddhist lore ['The Udumbara's Bloom'] and an ethnic dance from the Mongolian plains where the women use bundles of chopsticks to joyfully greet guests ['Mongolian Chopsticks'].
Ms. King noted that the state-of-the-art animated digital backdrops were "done very, very well." "I loved the way they incorporated the celestial beings coming down and going back up, and then appearing on stage," she said.
Ms. King said that as for things happening in China right now (referring to the persecution of Falun Gong), we must learn to think over and be aware of the facts.
Renowned Composer and Producer: The Chinese culture is "really really good"
Mr. Nieman, a Juno Award-winning composer and producer, attended the final DPA show in Ottawa. He said that he loved the drumming pieces, "Dragon Springs Drummers" and "Drummers of the Tang Court." "It's nice to see choreographed drums," he said.
Mr. Nieman, composer and producer
Mr. Nieman was also impressed by soprano Huang Pi-ju, one of the show's three solo singers. He described her voice as "really captivating." "I thought she had an amazing voice. She had a really, really good voice so I really liked that a lot."
In its celebration of traditional Chinese culture, DPA is the only company in the world that performs pure, strictly authentic Chinese classical dance as part of its repertoire. The DPA New York Company will continue on to Waterloo for two performances on January 6 and 7 before moving on to Toronto for four shows from January 8 to 14.
