NEW YORK—After attending Thursday's production of the Chinese New Year Splendor at Radio City Music Hall, two friends, Judy and Leslie, gave their assessment of the show.
"I had anticipated that it was going to be nice, because I had seen the video, but it's even better than I expected," said Leslie, who works in packaging and sales.
"It's so lively and colorful, it's great, I love it. I've been to China, and I could really appreciate the culture and a lot of what's going on. But those costumes are gorgeous, and there is so much action."
With her background in design, Leslie said she appreciated the "color, the rich color. And I thought the backdrops were interesting, especially the temple scene, that was wonderful, very well done…the movement in the back."
Judy, an interior designer, said she particularly enjoyed the music.
"Amazing, it's really, really nice. I love it. I especially enjoyed the music. The instrumentation was very unusual and very rich-sounding, and I thought the vocals — especially the tenor — were incredible, just amazing. It's unusual for me…he's singing Chinese in a western style, so that was a little unusual," she said.
Judy had several favorite pieces, "I loved the drummers, I loved the tenors, and that stringed instrument, the Erhu, I loved that. That was amazing. I had never heard that. It's so much richer than our violin, the depth of the layers of the sound are just incredible, just amazing."
She was also impressed by the Splendor's high tech, state of the art digital backdrops.
"I like the way the people are on the screen then they just come out onto the stage. I love that effect. How they are doing it I don't know, but I love it. I also like the jail scene, there's a big message there. And I like that. It's a little more serious, but it was pretty poignant."
Leslie reflected on an act in the Splendor that depicts a contemporary tragedy in China: the persecution of Falun Gong, now in its ninth year.
"As I was watching it I was just thinking how blessed we are in this country that we can express ourselves any way we want. And just for the fact that they can't, and they are persecuted for it, we're just blessed as a nation here. And if anybody comes away with anything, they should feel that."
The Chinese New Year Splendor continues in New York through Saturday, February 9.
For other shows in the Divine Performing Arts world tour, please visit: www.DivinePerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese New Year Splendor.
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