ST. LOUIS—With three restaurants in the St. Louis area, the Galati’s are the ones who usually offer hospitality to others, but on Sunday, Feb. 19, the couple was treated to a sumptuous feast, a presentation of classical Chinese dance and music by New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Peabody Opera House.
“We’re really enjoying ourselves,” Giovinni Galati said, owner of Dominic’s Restaurant,
Gio’s Restaurante and Bar and Dominic’s Tratoria, and in the business for more than 40 years.
Shen Yun’s mission is to revitalize the ancient performing arts of China, after more than 60 years of Communist rule in China, which has destroyed Chinese traditional culture.
This was the first time the couple had seen a performance of Chinese culture. “When I saw it advertised it sounded so interesting, and I told my husband, I said, you know we better go see this, and I am so glad we came,” Jackie Galati said.
Mrs. Galati particularly enjoyed the dance, Sleeves of Silk, in which ladies dance with very long sleeves called “water sleeves” that act as extensions of their arms.
“These sleeves linger in the air long after a movement is finished. The effect is akin to fluttering wings or trailing ripples, a visual echo of the performer as she glides from one movement to the next,” according to the program notes.
“I loved the girls, the girls are just so beautiful … The sleeves—that was beautiful,” she said. “They’re so perfect, so perfect; they really are perfect.”
“It’s amazing; this is beautiful, we really enjoyed it,” Mr. Galati added.
Shen Yun travels with a full orchestra to accompany the dances, and its boasts both Chinese and Western instruments, giving a sound completely unique and lush.
“The music was very nice; it goes well with the choreography—great, beautiful,” Mrs. Galati said.
Among Shen Yun performers are world-class vocalists who sing all original songs.
“Great singers; the tenor was great,” Mr. Galati said.
Mrs. Galati especially enjoyed soprano Pi-ju Huang.
The couple has a special fondness for classical music for a good reason. The couple’s daughter, Gina Galati, a soprano, founded her own opera company. “She has her company and she sings all these beautiful songs. … Her company is called Winter Opera St Louis, and she’s been in it for about five years and so she puts on three opera’s a year,” said Mrs. Galati.
Reporting by Catherine Wen and Sharon Kilarski.
Shen Yun Touring Company will be in Denver for one more performance on Feb. 23 at The Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex and then Nashville for performances at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center on Feb. 25 and 26.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
Friends Read Free