(Minghui.org) On October 22, 2023, the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra presented two concerts at the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York.
This was the ensemble’s first return to the public since the pandemic. The orchestra is comprised of musicians from Shen Yun Performing Arts, a company that aims to revive traditional Chinese culture before communism through dance and music. This ensemble was formed in response to the high demand from audiences who wanted to hear more of Shen Yun’s music. Since 2012, the orchestra has occasionally toured outside of Shen Yun’s half-year tour season.
This year’s program included classical favorites, like Dvorak’s “From the New World” and Sibelius’s “Finlandia”, as well as original works written by Shen Yun Performing Arts’ in-house composers. The New York-based ensemble is known for its blend of East and West, incorporating ancient Chinese instruments and melodies into a classical symphony orchestra.
Photos 1–8: the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra presented two performances at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York on October 22.
“Uplifting and Nourishing to the Spirit”
Russell Allen, founder and CEO of WellnessNow, at Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s matinee concert on October 22 (Screenshot of NTD Television)
“Very uplifting and nourishing to the spirit.” said Russell Allen, founder and CEO of WellnessNow.
“Understanding that beauty is part of our heart and early essence of every human being is very much a traditional value, and things that elevate the spirit like this music awaken us to our conscience and being better people,” he said.
“We Need This”
Alan Toth, an investment adviser representative at Sagepoint Financial Inc., at Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s matinee concert on October 22 (Screenshot of NTD Television)
“It calms my soul and we need that. It’s beautiful,” said Alan Toth, an investment adviser representative at Sagepoint Financial Inc.
“We need this. Everybody needs it,” he said.
“Cinematic” and “Stunning”
Yanna Katsageorgi and Spiros Exaras at Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s evening performance on October 22 (The Epoch Times)
Spiros Exaras, acclaimed composer and guitarist, and Yanna Katsageorgi, journalist, attended Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s evening concert on October 22.
“It’s very cinematic... It lifts you up,” Mr. Exaras said.
“It has strong emotions, and it really, you know, it travels. Actually, at some point it [transported] me back to the ages. Then, it got me back to today’s world.
“It’s very interesting to see how the cultures blend... It needs really mastery to create something really interesting, because it’s very easy to become ugly if you’re not careful,” he said.
He described the Orchestra as “beautiful, stunning.”
Ms. Katsageorgi said she also felt uplifted by the music. “It lifts me up. It’s very spiritual music,” she added, explaining that it was not like religious music but instead imbued with spirit. “It relaxes you and it’s extremely alive for me.”
“Their Skills Are Astonishing”
Hans Peter Trampe and Ulrike Trampe at Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s matinee performance on October 22 (Screenshot of NTD Television)
“It was a great experience. We decided to go to the show because it’s difficult to find such a show in Europe,” said Hans Peter Trampe, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Dr. Klein Wowi Digital AG, a software development company in Germany. He attended the concert with his wife Ulrike Trampe.
“It’s beautiful. It’s wonderful... Their skills are astonishing,” said Mrs. Trampe.
“So Uplifting and Inspiring”
Lorraine and Carl Nestman at Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s matinee performance on October 22 (The Epoch Times)
Lorraine and Carl Nestman, both music teachers, attended Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s matinee performance on October 22.
“I thought the music was beautiful. It was so uplifting and inspiring,” said Lorraine.
“It was uplifting. I felt like I was in an epic movie. It was just really beautiful... I felt like I was moved from one place to another,” Carl said.
“This Music Comes From Such a Pure Place”
Steve Breckner and Nicole Fiene at Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s matinee performance on October 22 (The Epoch Times)
Nicole Fiene, a senior district manager at ADP, Steve Breckner, a professor, and several other friends attended Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s matinee performance on October 22.
“I could listen to it forever. I don’t ever want it to end,” said Ms. Fiene.
“I feel at peace, my mind is just very clear. My body is very relaxed. And the sound is just so—it’s just a perfect sound,” she said.
“I just feel this really tranquil energy,” she added, while trying to explain the source of the tranquility. “It’s the talent of the musicians, and it’s very special performance.”
“I think that it’s so clear that this music comes from such a pure place, very pure... It’s just like this pure energy,” she said.
“I think that the world needs to restore the purity, like having a pure source of things, in all creations in music and art. In our minds and our hearts. There’s so much to gain when you come from a pure place, and so much positive impact that you can have,” she said.
Mr. Brecker agreed, commenting on how impressed he was with the musicians.
“There’s a peacefulness to it... I feel it inside. It comes to me inside. It’s not just external. I feel it internally,” he said.
He described the experience as “just amazing, astounding, beautiful.”
“A Medicine that Heals the Suffering”
Gregory, a doctor in New York, at Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s matinee performance on October 22 (The Epoch Times)
“Very uplifting, very classical... As you listen to the beautiful music, you seem to have detached from the harsh reality and forgotten about what’s going on in the world. Then you become fully immersed in the beauty of the music,” said Gregory, a doctor in New York.
“Blending eastern and western music together would clearly make us more closely connected. This would become a medicine that heals the suffering people in the globe,” he said.
“An Orchestra That is Beyond Imagination”
John Chiti and Thinzar Kyaw at Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s matinee performance on October 22 (The Epoch Times)
John Chiti and Thinzar Kyaw attended Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s matinee performance on October 22.
“I think this is an orchestra that is beyond imagination. Everyone worked together and performed very well. The conductor was excellent!” said Mr. Chiti, executive board member and finance committee chair at Futures Ignite.
“I like the energy and harmony between the conductor and performers. The fluidity of the orchestra is very inspiring... I would definitely recommend this program, especially to those interested in different cultures,” said Ms. Kyaw.
“Touched My Heart”
Attorney Ann Hoffman at Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s matinee performance on October 22 (Screenshot of NTD Television)
“It was fantastic. It was just so beautiful. The music, the cultural experience, and just being present with them in the audience as a participant. Beautiful, touched my heart,” said Ann Hoffman, an attorney.
“The music emphasized Asian culture, and it has I felt like the history—so much history of our own lives and of other people’s lives were represented in the room.
“It’s fantastic because to me, it’s about finding your best self and finding a way to heal the parts of us that are broken. And for me, that’s why I’m here – to not leave this earth with the same pain or experiences that I’ve had and not learning from them – finding a way to find that peace inside,” she said.
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