LAS VEGAS—Three-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker and musician Tim Cooney attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ first of four consecutive performances at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 27.
He stepped into the theater with high expectations, and the evening turned out to be everything he had hoped for and more.
“I love the show. ... Just the spectacle—the colors, the costumes, the dancing—it kept you entertained the entire time,” he said.
“When [the artists] came out and did that last performance I’m going, ‘It’s over already?’ and then I looked at my watch— I’ve been here 3 hours. I couldn’t believe it. So, it was great. Excellent show,” he said.
Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company dedicated to reviving China’s rich culture nearly lost under decades of communist rule. Its performances feature a series of short dances highlighting various regions of China, as well as solo musical pieces.
A musician himself, Mr. Cooney enjoyed listening to Shen Yun’s live orchestra play and said, “The way they played those instruments and the way the music sounded—it really enhanced the show.”
“I loved it. I loved it. You can’t beat live music. It was very professional. It adds excitement to the show,” he added.
“[The compositions] were great. Obviously, whoever did it knew what they were doing because it supported the story. The key with music in any kind of [show,] it should support the story ... but it shouldn’t be so up front that it takes away from the story. This supported the story, it enhanced the story—so that’s why that music was very, very good,” he said.
Mr. Cooney said this was especially evident in the comedic story dance depicting a day in the life of a restaurant, adding that he loved how the percussion instruments were perfectly timed to add sound effects and personality to the story.
Using classical Western orchestration as the foundation, Shen Yun’s original compositions highlight traditional Chinese instruments such as the two-stringed erhu and the pipa—an ancient Chinese lute. Bringing to its audience the best of both East and West.
According to the company’s website, Shen Yun’s orchestra is the first in the world to permanently combine ancient Chinese and Western instruments.
“From what I could tell all the musicians were top notch. I mean top-notch you know. I doubt you could get much better,” he stated.
“I’m used to being around live music and a lot of people aren’t. So, when they hear that it’s you know shocking to them. For me I immediately, being a musician, started pulling it apart—listening for certain instruments and seeing if they’re blending right, if they sound right, if they’re hitting the right notes. I couldn’t find a single thing wrong with it. It was excellent,” he said.
Reflecting on the spiritual element of the performance, Mr. Cooney said his take home message is that “if you can find your own peace inside yourself, the Creator will take care of you.”
“I think that’s what I got from it. Whoever [created Shen Yun] is very, very good at what they do,” he said.
Last but not least, Mr. Cooney would like to tell all the performers that they’ve done an excellent job and to keep doing what they’re doing because they’re “bringing happiness and joy to a whole lot of people on this tour.”
