Julie Nesrallah on Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra: 'It’s Just Perfect'

“It was my first time, and it was perfection. I thought the orchestra played with so much warmth, nuance, and passion, said mezzo soprano, host of CBC Radio Julie Nesrallah. “I thought the conductor was brilliant. I thought all the soloists were absolutely dazzling.” This is just some of the praise mezzo soprano, host of CBC Radio Julie Nesrallah had for the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s performance at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, Canada, on Oct. 5. Julie Nesrallah is a singer, actress and broadcaster. In 2013, She was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for her cultural contribution to Canada as the host of CBC Radio 2's national classical music program, "Tempo." “The singer [Haolan Geng, soprano] had a voice that was so strong and compelling, and the whole presentation was just superb, just perfection. I loved it. When she opened her mouth, it was so powerful. She’s so small, and this voice that came out, it was shimmering like silver,” said Nesrallah. “It carries all the way—so much strength that carried all the way to the end of the hall. The sound of her voice was just very powerful. A very unique voice, lots of silver in her tone which I like. I like it very much.” “It is important to keep that bel canto technique alive because it is quality, and I think people, even if they don’t know what bel canto is, will feel quality. They know it when they hear it,” she added. Among the pieces showcased in the orchestra’s new program are classical music favourites as well as original works from Shen Yun Performing Arts. “It was a brilliant combination of the East and the West. Shen Yun played the Tchaikovsky [The Sleeping Beauty], ”Carmen Fantasy,” Wagner [Kaisermarsch WWV 104], interspersed with the Chinese compositions, which was amazing,” said Nesrallah. “They had a little bit of this, a little bit of that, very different layers and flavors. Just a perfect, beautiful night out, I would recommend it to anyone, it’s just perfect.” “I liked that [piece Homage to the Great Tang Dynasty] very much because you could feel the energy of the title, of something being created in the universe,” said Julie Nesrallah.“It was very effective. [D.F.] is really excellent. It was all beautiful.” NTD News, Toronto, Canada