“I saw the performance at Zhongli Arts Hall on Sept. 20. I liked the performance so much, for it brought me much-needed peace,” said Kate Chen, a product quality engineer. “So today, I came with much gratitude, and I want to express my hope that they will be back next year.”
Based in New York, Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra comprises musicians from world-renowned Shen Yun Performing Arts, which has expanded to five touring groups since its debut in 2006. This year marks the second year that the orchestra has traveled to Taiwan, where it put on 15 performances in two weeks—all nearly sold-out.
For many concertgoers in Taiwan, it was their second experience with the orchestra.
Debbie Chang, 23, an elementary school teacher in Taoyuan, raved about Mr. Nachev’s humorous interactions with the audience. A huge fan of Shen Yun’s orchestra, Ms. Chang said it had become part of her daily life.
“Shen Yun has its own YouTube channel, so I visit the channel every now and then to see if the company posts anything new,” Ms. Chang said.
A Warm Reception in Taiwan
For Mr. Nachev and members of the orchestra, the Taiwan tour has always been special—for the way audience members react to the music, the standing ovations, and at least two or three encores, Mr. Nachev said.
One reason the orchestra’s music has deeply resonated with people in Taiwan is that they find common ground with the orchestra’s mission—the revival of traditional Chinese culture. While such culture has been lost in modern-day China, it has flourished on the island.
Alistair Crawford, trombone player for the orchestra, couldn’t agree more: People are “always enthusiastic here.” “They really seem to understand the culture on quite a deep level, and they really appreciate what we are doing.”
Shen Yun’s Unique Music
The orchestra’s music is unique in beautifully bringing together Western and Chinese instruments. For many musicians in the orchestra, this was a new experience.“Everyday I work with Chinese composers, and we share our experience,” said Mr. Nachev, a graduate of the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia who had already established his career as a conductor before joining Shen Yun. “This way, I can learn much faster about Chinese music, about Chinese traditions, and about Chinese instruments.”
Mr. Robins, who holds a master’s degree from the New England Conservatory, explained how, as a trumpet player, he is able to bring out the unique Chinese flavor.
“I just always look for the melody. I never try to play anything technically, but only musically,” he said. “I am really trying to bring out the lines that the melody is trying to show, no matter what sort of technique is represented in that composition.”
But beyond the instruments—the unique combination of East and West—the orchestra stands out as one-of-a-kind compared with other orchestras in the world, Mr. Nachev says.
“We are not only going to amuse people, but we are also going to inspire their spirit,” he said. “The message we are sending is the message of humanity, the message about the culture, about the emotions, about the spirit, and about belief.”
