BERLIN—Clauspeter Koscielny, publisher and editor-in-chief of the opera magazine Oprheus International, said he was invigorated by the closing show of Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Internationales Congress Centrum in Berlin, March 23.
“Now, I’m invigorated and have the vitality I need for this year and I can accept that I have to wait another year to see this performance again in Berlin,” he said.
Mr. Koscielny has seen Shen Yun in previous years and said he feels that “Shen Yun is beautiful and tasteful; everything that can be expressed by the word ‘aesthetic’.”
“It is wonderful to be able to see this performance just once every year and then one is able to look forward to the show next year,” he said.
Based in New York, Shen Yun has three companies that simultaneously tour the globe bringing traditional Chinese culture to life through dance, music, and song.
This year, Mr. Koscielny discovered a new aspect in the performance.
“This year I found poetry in the performance. Everything was perfectly executed, serene, and I had calm feeling throughout the show,” he said.
Although Berlin weather was cold with snow still on the street, Mr. Koscielny said he felt that “spring was in the body language of the dancers,” and that the spring season “must be around the corner since Shen Yun has graced us with its presence.”
Mr. Koscielny was very appreciative of the skill of Shen Yun’s bel canto soloists.
“The soprano and tenor were excellent and the other singers were also very good. The pianist accompanying the singers was sensitive to the needs of the singer,” he said.
While the singers perform, audiences can read the lyrics in Chinese and local language projected in the background.
Mr. Koscielny enjoyed this feature saying that “reading the words of the songs was very helpful” and that the lyrics carried a universal message that transcended East and West.
“They didn’t seem to be only Eastern thoughts and contained how we feel and think in the West. One only needs to listen and let the song sink into one’s being,” he said.
Beyond the technique, Mr. Koscielny said that by listening deeply and openly, one is able to experience the performance more profoundly.
“One needs to absorb the other worldliness, meaning that one has to just sit and slowly absorb what is radiated by the performers. If one is able to open oneself, open one’s feelings, one immerses oneself in the aura and experiences it deeply,” he said.
The blend of modern technology with ancient art enhanced the performance for Mr. Koscielny.
“The high-tech backdrops are fascinating. They are an important part of making the Shen Yun show so successful,” he said.
Shen Yun’s digital backdrop displays animated characters and allows audiences to experience a variety of scenery such as the high Himalayas, vast plains of Mongolia, and heavenly paradises.
The traditional dances transcended history and culture and were a clear medium for cross-cultural exchange for Mr. Koscielny.
“What I will take with is me that while the origin of the dances is ancient, they are as effective today as they were thousands of years ago,” he said.
“This is proof that body language is a universal language that can be understood by everyone around the world.”
“It is so important because we don’t need to learn Chinese or German to understand what Shen Yun is telling its audience,” he said.
Reporting by Alexander Hamrle
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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