TORONTO—The debut of Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra in Toronto at Roy Thomson Hall on Oct. 16 was a resounding success, with a packed audience expressing their appreciation of the unique orchestra blending classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments. 

Alex Khaskin, a composer for film and TV whose work has been featured in many Hollywood as well as Canadian productions, said he enjoyed the performance very much.

“I like the blend of it. It’s Eastern music orchestrated in a Western way,” Mr. Khaskin said, noting that it was the first time he has heard this combination.

According to the Shen Yun website, the New York-based company’s “all-original compositions draw upon five millennia of culture and legends. Western strings, percussion, woodwinds, and brass accentuate the sound of ancient Chinese instruments—like the two-stringed erhu and the plucked pipa.”

Mr. Khaskin, who is originally from Russia, said he was pleasantly surprised to hear the orchestra perform a piece by Russian composer Mikhail Glinka. 

He praised the musicians for their overall performance and coordination. 

“[The] musicians are good, very tight. You can tell there’s a lot of rehearsal involved,” he said. 

With reporting by Dongyu Teng and NTD Television

New York-based Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra comprises musicians from the four Shen Yun Performing Arts touring companies. The orchestra’s North American tour runs through Oct. 27. 

For more information, visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org/symphony