NEW YORK—An international law attorney and his wife, a retired city teacher, said they enjoyed Chinese New Year Splendor and its message after watching the Friday evening performance of the show at Radio City Music Hall.
"On one hand, it had the talent, the pageantry, the color is absolutely overwhelming, on the other hand it provides a sense of emotional loss to think that all of this is denied the mainland [China]," said Martin, an international law attorney residing in Manhattan, who preferred not to give his last name.
"These are people who understand and feel what liberty is," said Martin. "I was especially moved by the soprano—at the words that flashed on the screen. I thought that was extraordinarily heroic."
Martin referred to the song "I Sing For You" by soprano Min Jiang—a song about rejuvenating Chinese culture after decades of communist rule in mainland China. The song included the words: "Though crooks my have sullied our glorious culture, the values of honesty, kindness, and patience endure."
"I respect these people a great deal. I think they stand for honesty and dignity and an appreciation of what life should really be. I think they are unbelievably courageous people," said Martin's wife Fay, a retired New York City teacher. "It's a very noble message and I think people should be exposed to culture. I think that world needs more of this kind of performances so that people can understand and appreciate each other's culture."
"It's marvelous … The colors and the scenery are beyond description," said Fay of the show's performances.
Martin added, "I can tell you, apart from what is obviously a brilliant scenic [performance], and the costumes, and dance, what was especially interesting to us was the spiritual message conveyed."
Martin said he and his wife have traveled all over the world, including China.
"We've had the good fortune of traveling virtually all over the world. We've been to China; we were one of the first when it opened up, shortly after the disappearance of Mao Zedong," said Martin. "I think they stand for honesty and dignity and an appreciation of what life should really be. I think they are unbelievably courageous people."
"We are hardly surprised given what we known and what we've seen that the Chinese have developed the way they have."
Fay remarked, "I do believe that if not for the shackles that are still around them, it would be an incredibly wonderful country."
"The colors and the scenery are beyond description.
"It's a very noble message and I think people should be exposed to culture. I think that world needs more of this kind of performances so that people can understand and appreciate each other's culture.
"It should travel all over the country.
"Everything isn't supposed to be just fun, fun, fun—life is not a circus. I'm really happy to see also that there are many children here, and I think it's important when children are young for them to start to appreciate the culture of other nations. We should not be so provincial that we think only what exists in America is what exists in the world," Fay added.
The Chinese New Year Splendor continues in New York through Saturday, Feb. 9.
For other shows in the Divine Performing Arts world tour, please visit: http://www.divineperformingarts.com/
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese New Year Splendor.
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