WORCESTER, Mass.—Gerald and Veronica Montiverdi were at a loss for words after watching Shen Yun Performing Arts on Thursday, Feb. 7, at The Hanover Theatre.
“This is probably one of the most beautiful shows that I’ve ever seen in my life,” Mr. Montiverdi said. “The colors, the dynamics, the music—it was just incredible, it was incredible!”
“There are not enough words to describe what we saw tonight. It was beautiful, it really was,” he said. Mr. Montiverdi works at the Worcester police department and is also a deacon at a Catholic church as well as a chaplain at a local hospital.
“It was beautiful, fantastic. It was fantastic. I’ve never seen anything quite so beautiful,” Mrs. Montiverdi said.
This is the first time the couple has seen Shen Yun. In fact, Mrs. Montiverdi said that they hardly ever go to the theater. Mr. Montiverdi explained that they had never heard of the New York-based classical Chinese dance and music company. But when they saw a promotion for Shen Yun, he said, “We decided we were going to come and see it.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts was formed “when a group of classical Chinese artists came together with a mission to revive the true, divinely inspired culture of China,” according to the company’s website. This year is the seventh annual world tour for Shen Yun, which currently has three dance companies and three orchestras that tour about 20 countries and 100 cities.
As a deacon and chaplain, Mr. Montiverdi was especially touched by the spiritual aspect of traditional Chinese culture depicted in the performance. “There was a very spiritual enlightening to it, very peaceful, very peaceful and very calming,” he said. “It really was beautiful.”
“There was a story behind everything, there was meaning to everything. It was incredible—it was. Beautiful,” he said.
Shen Yun draws on stories and legends that span China’s 5,000 years of history, from the Yellow Emperor all the way to the modern day.
“Whether set in the past or in contemporary China, every dance embodies traditional Chinese values. Ideals of loyalty, filial piety, and veneration for the divine are cherished and celebrated. Heroes are extolled for their compassion and tolerance as much as their courage or determination when facing adversity,” the website states.
Although Thursday evening may have been the first time the couple has seen a Shen Yun performance, “it won’t be the last,” Mr. Montiverdi said.
“If they come back again, I'll be here. We will be here,” he stated, and his wife agreed.
With reporting by Hua Chang and Connie Phillips
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
Friends Read Free