PARIS—By attending the Shen Yun, Divine Performing Arts (DPA) 2009 World Tour in Paris’ Palais des Congres, on Feb. 28, popular French singer Mr. Bonnot discovered something new to him.
“It was magic to see this show with a hundred artists on stage and a full orchestra. It is a very soft show, very colored, and also very eclectic. There are singers, instrumentalists, soloists, and also dancers. … All of them are amazing! I really would like to congratulate the choreographer because it is all perfectly adjusted.
“I would summarize it in three words: softness, color, talent. I was particularly impressed by two dances: where a father is tortured and dies [Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution], and the one happening in a Chinese prison [Dignity and Compassion]. It is very important that this message goes through, and it would be very important to make documentaries so that everyone can know.
“The great advantage of this show is that it exposes the persecution happening in China—the message did go through, and I would warmly recommend anyone not having attended the show to go and see it.”
Mr. Bonnot has placed himself in the French popular culture as a singer and pianist. He is currently preparing a new album, which should be in music stores by the fall of 2009. He will be in New York this spring to participate in a musical comedy produced by CBS TV.
Another showgoer was also deeply impressed after seeing the DPA performance for a second time. Ms. Manuel said the new show inspired her with the same sense of awe as the first.
“Such clarity, such beauty. … Truly it is magnificent. Certainly, the dance performances are new, the colors are different, the storytelling is different. However, the wonder is the same,” she said.
Ms. Manuel said the orchestra and the music were “superb” though the rhythms were different, and the singers have “just grand voices,” she said.
The erhu [two-stringed Chinese violin] soloist was particularly notable. “It is very, very beautiful. I was truly touched. She was very inspiring and she played with such tenderness”.
Speaking of the dancers, Ms. Manuel said, “They are very, very beautiful, very diverse.
“Technically speaking, they all have extraordinary foundations as classical dancers, classical to our Western eyes, however [also] classical in the terms of the Chinese aspect, which is absolutely impeccable.
“Also the precision, the grace, and the gentleness. Always with a smile, always the beauty of things. And the magnificent gestures,” she added.
Ms. Manuel said she had loved everything about the show, particularly the fact that it was a live performance.
“This nurtures one’s soul, this provides something wondrous and ... the fact that the show is a live show and not taped.
“Shows of such genre make one enjoy in general the performing arts even more.”
This was the third DPA performance at the Palais des Congres as part of the 2009 World Tour. The next leg of the tour will be in London from March 3–7.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts. Please see DivinePerformingArts.org for more information
