NEW YORK—Victoria Wefer, a professional soprano, found the music in Shen Yun Performing Arts “absolutely supreme.”
“[During] the soloist with the erhu, I literally burst into tears during the first two notes,” said Ms. Wefer. “I started crying because it was a human voice, just like our violin of the west. And to hear it, it was very powerful.”
Xiachun Qi, Shen Yun’s erhu virtuoso, performed a solo number titled “Sacred Destiny” on April 27, during Shen Yun’s performance in front of a full house at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater.
The erhu has a long history of over 4,000 years, is one of the most impotrant Chinese instruments, and is “incredibly expressive,” according to Shen Yun’s website.
“In its lowest and middle range, the erhu is especially stirring and somber, a quality especially suitable for conveying the grand pageant of China’s history and the emotions of its people,” explains the website. “Though it has only two strings, it can convey a wide range of emotions.”
Ms. Wefer is a winner of multiple awards and has performed for royalty in Europe, as well as many audiences in the Unites States and the rest of the world. Her operatic roles include Violetta in “Verdi’s La Traviata”, Carmen and Micaëla in Bizet’s “Carmen,” and Musetta in Puccini’s “La Bohème.”
Ms. Wefer said that the two sopranos in Shen Yun were magnificent.
“The applause was almost deafening at one point. And that was well deserved,” said Ms. Wefer.
Shen Yun, based in New York, has a mission to revive 5,000 years of China’s divinely inspired culture through “breathtaking music and dance,” the company’s website states.
In reviving the culture, Shen Yun presents myths and legnds on stage that show principles such as benevolence, justice, and propriety, as well as a respect for the heavens and divine retribution.
“A couple of messages stayed with me as the lights dimmed. Tolerance. Mercy. Patience. And love,” said Ms. Wefer.
“Everything was so beautiful, so very well done. I will be back here next year for sure. And I will bring friends.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Ivan Penchoukov
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
Shen Yun Performing Arts is performing at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center through April 28.
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
