After a three-year hiatus, Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra is returning to New York City. The classical Chinese and Western orchestra will perform two concerts at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall October 22.
“We strive to create a transcendent musical experience that resonates with the hearts and minds of the audience,” says conductor Milen Nachev. “Each performance is an opportunity to transport our listeners to another world and inspire their imagination.”
The Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra has received long standing ovations at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, as well as in many cities North American and in Asia, because there’s simply no other orchestra that does what it does.
The Best of Both Worlds
While Shen Yun Performing Arts is known around the world for its colorful and lively dance productions, the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra was created as a response to audience members who loved the live orchestral accompaniment.
Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra is the only one in the world that combines as its permanent members both classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments.
Its concerts include a selection of Shen Yun’s most celebrated compositions. These original works draw inspiration from five millennia of civilization, ranging from divine legends and grand imperial assemblies to the robust spirit of the grasslands and charmingly delicate court-yard melodies.
“In our original Shen Yun works,” says violinist Debbie Jin, “much of the time the pipa and erhu play the melody while the Western instruments accompany them.”
“During these moments, it’s eye-opening to hear how our colleagues who play Chinese instruments express their musical ideas, as they often employ many techniques foreign to us.”
Jin, an award-winning violinist originally from Sydney, Australia, will be a soloist in the upcom-ing concert, performing The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto. This well-loved classic Chinese concert piece relates an ancient folk tale from the Jin Dynasty, nearly two thousand years ago. It’s a story of friendship, predestination, and love, told with an unforgettable melody.
This performance also features classical Western masterpieces, with works by Dvořák and Sibe-lius. These are performed the way they were originally written, without the Chinese instruments, to respect and celebrate the pieces’ original beauty.
‘Rich and Distinctive’
Shen Yun Symphony boasts artists from all reaches of the globe, ranging from seasoned veterans to brilliant young talents.
Milen Nachev is a conductor well known for his strong musicality and stylistic faithfulness. Bulgarian born, he served as principal conductor and music director of several major Eastern European orchestras, and his recordings have been regularly broadcast by the BBC and Radio France. He recently completed his tenth season with Shen Yun Performing Arts.
“The Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra has played a significant role in preserving and promoting the classical and traditional music repertoire by performing our own original compositions as well as classical masterpieces,” says Nachev.
In the original compositions, he says, “The Chinese instruments help us create special tonal colors and make our sonority and texture particularly rich and distinctive.”v
Shen Yun’s original music was all composed in-house and was especially written for Shen Yun dances.
“You have beautiful and ever-flowing Eastern melodies supported and amplified by the power of the Western harmony,” the conductor says. “And with the full-size symphony orchestra, you have incredible dynamic range.”
Not to Miss
Performing live for the first time since the fall of 2019, the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra is not an average music experience.
“We want to give the audience an uplifting and soul-stirring experience,” says Jin. “For me, I hope to share the emotions that speak to me from the music—joy, passion, and beauty.”
“In this performance,” adds Nachev, “we have the capability to create for the audience a certain magical transparency using imaginative orchestration. It’s like opening the door to a different realm.”
For tickets and more, visit shenyunsymphony.com.
