(Clearwisdom.net) As part of its 80-city tour, Shen Yun Performing Arts has won the hearts of audiences around the world. The company performed at Regina's Connexus Theater for the first time on Sunday afternoon, April 19, 2009.

In the audience was Professor Raum. Besides being a professor of music, he is also the principal trombone in one of the most prominent symphony orchestras in Saskatchewan. He found the performance "very melodic" and "rhythmic." "It's just very pleasurable. [The music] fits perfectly with the action on stage, as it should. At the same time, there's an ethnic flavor to the music. It's great."

Professor Raum

"I think it's a great match--you not only have the sounds that you're familiar with, but you're also hearing some of the other types like the [erhu] that's typical Chinese with the vibrato style and its unique sound. It just couldn't be better."

Mr. Raum was impressed by the erhu, a traditional Chinese two-stringed instrument, and erhu soloist Mei Xuan. "She's great. It's a very slow-fast-slow tempo. It's very pleasurable, relaxing. That sort of quality to it."

Mr. Raum has performed as principal trombone with other prominent Canadian symphony orchestras, has an extensive conducting background, and has held other high positions such as head of the university music department.

Professor Raum said, "It's very interesting because in Regina we have quite a wide ethnic dancing community... but we've never had a full Chinese ensemble like this come in to dance [as far as] I can remember. It's exciting, well-done, well-choreographed. The ensemble is really together, 'tight' as we would say.

"It's not just the dancing--the costumes are fabulous! Especially the groups of women with the fans," he continued, referring to a dance called "Welcoming Spring."

Shen Yun's animated digital backdrop also captured Mr. Raum's imagination. "It's fun ... you're waiting for something to come out of the screen. You're anticipating what they're going to do, how clever they're going to be, how original they can make it to work with the storyline, with what's going on on stage. Euphoric! You're just totally excited about what's going on on stage."

Costume Maker: The costumes were beautiful

Those in the field of costume design have consistently praised Shen Yun Performing Arts for its stunningly beautiful handmade costumes, and Ms. Mearns was no exception. The theatrical costume maker and instructor was definitely impressed, "It was very well done. The costumes were very lovely. They are really well made, beautiful costumes," she said. She likened Shen Yun's story-based dances to drama--"telling a story through the language [of dance], and the actors becoming personalities."

Ms. Mearns and her husband

Ms. Mearns especially liked "Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution," a dramatic performance about a young family whose father is persecuted to death by the Chinese communist regime for his belief. "That was quite moving, that was good, I enjoyed that. [I] loved the dramas. They were fantastic, very colorful, and they are all very vibrant, enthusiastic. Very good dances, very disciplined, you can tell," she said.

Classical Musician: "You have a wonderful orchestra down there"

Mrs. Magnus, a classically trained musician and senior manager at a prominent telecommunications company in Saskatchewan, attended the show with her daughter, Erin, a concert violinist. They both enjoyed the show. Mrs. Magnus said she was particularly impressed by the artistry of Shen Yun. "This is just fabulous! The dancing and the drumming are just amazing. Very enjoyable," she said during the show's intermission.

Mrs. Magnus and her daughter Erin

Mrs. Magnus, who is trained in piano and the oboe, enjoyed the music. "It's so nice to have a live orchestra as opposed to taped music. You have a wonderful orchestra down there, and I know dancers like to dance with live musicians."

Mrs. Magnus also praised the precision of the dancers in "Drummers of the Tang Court." "The power of the drumming, the precision--because there were 20 musicians up there--The precision was just wonderful. The erhu was just wonderful, so unique, and the pipa, I wish I could have heard more of that."

She said, "Very well done! The choreography is very professionally done. I also enjoyed the stories that they tell--the fact that all of them are about the history of China. They tell a story through dance."

Her husband also thought the show had a message. He said, "If music is used the right way, it can promote peace and goodwill. The colors, the costumes, and the backdrop were wonderful! They were so original and beautiful--and with movement. It was so graceful, and the music was beautiful. The whole thing was beautiful."

Source: http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/15612/
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