SAN FRANCISCO—As a trained musician, bassoonist Dean Frick noticed straight away that the orchestra of Shen Yun Performing Arts was unique.

“It’s very impressive,” Mr. Frick said at the War Memorial Opera House, Jan. 11, as he attended the performance with a fellow musician friend. “I’m very impressed with the musicians.”

Mr. Frick particularly enjoyed hearing much of the bassoon in the orchestra, but was intrigued with how the traditional Chinese instruments had been blended into the full Western symphony.

“What we’re hearing right now is not a Western instrument,” Mr. Frick said, noting the instruments like the woodwind suona, Chinese lute pipa, and two-stringed erhu.

Based in New York, Shen Yun has four internationally touring companies, each with the unique Shen Yun Orchestra. Last year, the Shen Yun Orchestra completed its first North American tour, bringing an entirely new sound with the grandeur of a Western symphony and the history of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

Beyond the orchestra, Shen Yun was a visual wonder for Mr. Frick as well.

“I really enjoy everything,” Mr. Frick said. “The choreography is really outstanding.”

Mr. Frick had been impressed with the athleticism of the dancers, and the incorporation of a digital backdrop. Shen Yun’s backdrop helps transport the audience, as its website states, showing various landscapes of China and setting the scene for stories like ancient legends and myths. The animated backdrop also allows performers to move from stage to screen instantly.

“I’ve never really ever seen anything like that before,” Mr. Frick said.

Reporting by Gary Wang and Catherine Yang

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.