NEW YORK—Ms. Johnson, a music composer and performer, beamed about Divine Performing Arts Chinese New Year Splendor after seeing the show at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday.
“I loved it.” She said “I appreciate all styles of music and so I already appreciate classical, just from being trained on the flute.”
“I grew up in a very diverse neighborhood, diverse education so… I loved it.”
“What I love about it all is that it was a mixture of the classical music, and of course the cultural music ... the combination of the melodies and the harmonies,” she said
The Divine Performing Arts Orchestra brings together two of the world’s greatest classical music traditions, Chinese and Western, in a masterful fusion. With Western instruments as its base, the orchestra brings out Chinese musical flair through a variety of Chinese instruments.
Being a musician, Ms. Johnson could appreciate the skill and feeling that went into the performances.
“I was able to relate as far as the notes chosen, the harmonies chosen, and I am aware of Asian culture as well,“ said Ms. Johnson adding, how this made her able to pick up on the ”emotion that comes from the music that’s being performed.”
All of the music the 40-plus member orchestra plays is original and composed to fit perfectly with each dance. The live accompaniment adds an energy and joyful exuberance.
“I think the first or second opera singer really stood out the most for me because their notes were just on point.”
Although the sopranos and tenors sing in Chinese, the audience can see the English translation on the computer-generated backdrops.
“I was able to see what they were saying, that’s what fit in overall because the point was hope and offering people more hope for the new year so that’s what I got from it,” said Ms. Johnson.
The DPA sopranos and tenors with piano accompaniment sing impassioned arias that give voice to the deepest of spiritual longings as well as to hopes that have shaped Chinese culture for centuries.
“I understand when the piano player is moving along the way that she does, I understand that, I do that as well.”
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts International Tour.
For more information, please see divineperformingarts.org
