LONDON—Divine Performing Arts (DPA) New York Company’s second and third shows in London on March 4 drew loud and spontaneous applause. Two curtain calls were made after its conclusion.
In the audience was a celebrated erhu and Mongol stringed instrument player, Dr. Huehns. Born in London, he attended Cambridge University and Kings College. Later, in 1992 he began studying at the Royal Academy of Music, and in the same year, he completed his doctorate in music at Cambridge. He has also studied the erhu and Chinese traditional music at China’s ancient capital city, Xi'an. Currently he works as a lecturer at the Royal Academy of Music.
When interviewed during intermission, Dr. Huehns spoke fluent Chinese to express his feelings about DPA. “I’m an erhu teacher. The performance by DPA was excellent. I’m currently teaching at the Royal Academy of Music. I brought a student of mine here tonight. I think the performance is very high caliber.
“I’m just sad that I only brought one student—all the others were busy. Furthermore, I’ve never had the opportunity to learn the true situation of Falun Gong, so I’m glad to have this opportunity tonight.
“Regarding the combination of both Western and Eastern traditional instruments, the orchestra has done this very well. Especially as a teacher of both Western and Eastern music, I think that this concept and accomplishment [of combining West and East] is remarkable.
“I also want to say, the performance and the melodies were completely different from what I studied in China. If I have a chance I'd like to study about it more and read the music score.”
Although the reporter didn’t get a chance to speak with Dr. Huehns after the show, on his own initiative he emailed the reporter, again in Chinese, to express his feelings about the DPA erhu soloist, Qi Xiaochun:
“So moving I could cry: Graceful, pleasant, perfect, flawless, and truly melodious.”
For more information please visit DivinePerformingArts.org
