Chicago Symphony Oboist: ‘Absolutely Spectacular’

A Chicago Symphony oboist and a club owner, among others, gave their impressions of the Divine Performing Arts show
Chicago Symphony Oboist: ‘Absolutely Spectacular’
8/26/2008
Updated:
8/26/2008
NEW YORK—The Divine Performing Arts Company once again presented a show packed with pure Chinese culture at the Hammerstein Ballroom at Manhattan Center Studios on Sunday evening.

The performance treated Western and Chinese audience members to genuine classic Chinese dance with its three components of bearing, form, and technique. The inner connotation of each program enraptured the audiences in a unique way.

The viewers were composed of various ethnicity and professions. Many of the audiences were also in the professional fields of music and arts, and they offered their insights about this performance.

Ray Still, the first oboist of the Chicago Symphony for forty years, has a well-known career in orchestral, solo, and chamber music. “I appreciated the whole production. It’s absolutely spectacular,” he said.

“I like the drummers. I thought they were fantastic,” said Still.

‘Drummers of the Tang Court’ was performed by dozens of male dancers evincing the thunderous Tang drums that became popular during the most prosperous period of Chinese history, the Tang Dynasty. Drums during that period were played by soldiers going to battle, to pass commands, demonstrate power and enhance morale.

“The music is of a particular style, it is the Chinese style,” said Still. “I have played and recorded a lot of Chinese-style music, but the Chinese music I recorded is usually by people like Stravinsky, who wrote the ‘Song of Nightingale.’ So I am not that used to this type of Chinese music, but I enjoyed it very much.”

Jeff Dunn, a club owner in New York, described the show as “very, very beautiful.” He liked the ‘Mongolian Bowl Dance’ for its beautiful colors.

Another girl from the audience, Jialing, was also very happy to share her opinion on the show.

“I am very much enjoying it. I love the costumes and I think the expressions on the dancers are beautiful,” said Jialing. “I enjoyed the Tibetan dance (Snowy Mountain, White Lotus) the most. I like their hair and their braids, and I like their sleeves that symbolize peace and friendship.”
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