HOUSTON—Hearing the traditional Chinese instruments incorporated in Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts was a moving experience for physician Francisco Moreno Sunday night in Houston.
“It’s a special sound, like it’s almost a human vocal chord,” Mr. Moreno said of the erhu, or the Chinese violin, he heard within the orchestra.
In the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra, the two-stringed erhu, and pipa (the Chinese lute) are blended into a full classical Western symphony orchestra.
Besides performing original compositions created by Shen Yun’s talented composers, Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to classical Western music with pieces by Beethoven and Tchaikovsky.
“Behind today’s choice of repertoire lies the belief that, like many enduring traditions, Western and Chinese music are truly divine gifts,” reads the orchestra’s program.
Mr. Moreno said he agreed. “It makes you feel so at peace with yourself,” he said.
“It makes you feel like [you’re in] a different world,” Mr. Moreno said. “It makes you feel so good, so fulfilled ... so enjoyable.”
Mr. Moreno attended the performance with his wife Mrs. Galina Moreno, and his friends.
“I really like it, the whole thing, the composition, the instruments,” said Mr. Angelo Pozo.
Mr. Pozo and Mrs. Moreno said they had all been chatting about how unique and human-like the erhu’s sound was through intermission.
“They’re like voices, the music was like voices, it’s amazing,” Mrs. Moreno said.
“It’s like the instruments were singing,” Mr. Pozo said.
Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra is on a seven-city tour with performances in Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, from Sept. 27–Oct. 22. For more information, visit Symphony.Shenyun.com