(Clearwisdom.net) It was singer Hong Ming that drew high praise from a fellow tenor in the audience at the Canon Theatre Saturday night as Shen Yun Performing Arts continued its run in Toronto.

"Great technique, wonderful technique," said vocal teacher and performer Mr. Castillo, of the world renowned Shen Yun tenor.

Mr. and Mrs. Castillo attended Saturday evening's presentation of Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Canon Theatre in downtown Toronto. Mr. Castillo, an accomplished bel canto singer, had special praise for Shen Yun's tenor, Hong Ming.

Shen Yun's Hong Ming was designated a "National First-Class Performer" in his native China. He has performed several times for foreign dignitaries and has won more than 30 awards at vocal competitions, including first prize in the 2008 International Chinese Vocal Competition in New York.

Because Mr. Castillo is a soloist tenor in the challenging bel canto style, which Hong Ming also employs, he immensely enjoyed seeing and listening to the Shen Yun show Saturday night with his wife.

"His diction was unbelievable. It was impeccable," Mr. Castillo said of Hong Ming. Well trained, well thought out. I think he was really working well with the accompanist as well. She was really telling the story."

It was not only Hong Ming's singing that deeply moved Mr. Castillo and left him with a profound impression of classical Chinese culture and history. "I felt as though I was transported to a time in history that has been forgotten by North Americans," he said. "I actually felt as though I was part of a history that was being told. Even though it's not my history, it's like I wanted to be a part of that history."

Mr. Castillo was pleased that New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts seeks to preserve and further the heritage of traditional Chinese culture. "I appreciate the authenticity of it--the colours, the dancers, the technique," said Mr. Castillo. "They really stayed within the lines of Chinese tradition, Chinese culture, Chinese story, myths and legends, that as a child you want to believe in. As an adult, you sort of forget these things, but you sort of want to believe in them again, that the world can be a better place."

He described as "amazing" the state-of-the-art backdrops, which displayed traditional scenes and landscapes, accompanying the Shen Yun performances, and he was taken by the colour of the costumes.

"I felt it really matched the landscape of the Chinese culture, the colours, the vibrancy of the colours," he said.

"My favourite costume was the water dance costume," he said. In "Nymphs of the Sea", silk fans are used to simulate water in a remarkable, flowing presentation that drew oohs from the audience.

"That was unbelievable!"

Concert Promoter: 'Orchestra was great!'

Mr. Cormier, a well known concert promoter from Toronto also joined the enthused audience on Saturday, October 11, and expressed his appreciation for the show. "The sound was great, the orchestra was great, the music was very suitable," said Mr. Cormier.

Shen Yun is known for its unique symphony orchestra which combines classical Chinese and western musical instruments. "It was very good," said his friend Cynthia. "I'm really enjoying it," she added before giving special praise to "The Udumbara's Bloom", one of dances performed that night.

"It was a nice story and the dancing was beautiful." Mr. Cormier agreed, "I also liked [The Udumbara's Bloom]. It was beautiful to look at."

"The costumes were lovely," said Cynthia. "It was very enthusiastic, as were all the performances."

She said she also enjoyed Shen Yun's innovative backdrops. "I had never seen anything like that," added Mr. Cormier. "It was really well done, it had life."

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