BREGENZ, Austria—Showgoers rewarded the performers at the closing of this year’s Bregenz Shen Yun Performing Arts with a standing ovation.
The orchestra and tenor Ge Tian had been honored with special applause throughout the evening.
Duchess Elisabeth zu Salm-Salm and an acquaintance were among the audience.
She was full of praise for the New York based Shen Yun performance.
“The show was fantastic! Not only the traditional dances - the artists movements, the colors and the backdrop, everything was beautiful. The choreography was simply superb. The whole show was an unforgettable event.”
The live orchestra that combined Western and Eastern instruments warranted special mention.
“The orchestral interplay between Western and Asian instruments was fascinating. That is something I had not assumed. It sounded half foreign, half familiar, and sounded great. I think it elicits something from both cultures—European and Chinese.”
Aside from kudos for the superb dancing, the stagecraft and costuming, Shen Yun is renowned for everyone’s skill in the live orchestra, prompting the duchess, “The harmony between the dances and the music was unique. I really enjoyed it. The show is so melodic.”
She was particularly impressed with the erhu and the musician playing it. The erhu is a traditional two-stringed Chinese knee violin.
“I have seen illustrations of this instrument and as wood carvings. But when one hears the instrument actually played the sound goes immediately to the heart. It was wonderful—a bit melancholy, but hopeful, too. I liked it immensely. And the dances conveyed what they needed to tell. The moderator was a great help to comprehend the goings-on at the stage. The show is a cause célèbre. I am so glad I attended.”
The duchess was already familiar with the story of the monk, as well as with the Monkey King [The Monkey King Outwits Pigsy] and said, “Both are famous Chinese stories.”
The first is attributed to a 600-year old literary work, about a hero called Lu Zishen, and the other is from the novel Journey to the West.
“Such spirited fighting—a bit like kung fu. Really strong and powerful scenes.”
The duchess is familiar with Chinese culture because of her interest in antiques, especially Chinese porcelain.
“I read much about Chinese mythology. That’s why many things in the show seemed familiar. Everything is brought back to mind with the show; I can easily comprehend the messages behind the acting.”
She was particularly moved by the scene Without Regret, in which police murder a young man for owning a copy of the book Zhuan Falun, the main text for Falun Gong practice, a meditation practice of truth, compassion and tolerance.
“That young man, initially standing on stage with his mother and was then persecuted, and how the mother grieved, that was most impressive. And then immediately ascending to heaven—that ends the otherwise negative scene on a note of hope.”
In the scene Herding on the Grassland, she was greatly impressed with the rendition of Mongolian horsemen. It managed to bring life in the Mongolian wilderness to life.”
“Overall, the entire program was quite a success, a well-done time capsule about China—professionally carried out. The transition from ancient China to the present was interesting. The show also conveyed the message that the artists are one body, presenting a unified whole. I like that—it came across very well.”
She will tell others about the Shen Yun show, “I can only recommend this show to any and all and would like to see it again.”
Reporting by Alexander M. Hamrle and Christina Riveland.
The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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