MONTPELLIER, France—Exceptional, surprising, enchanting, magical, wonderful—these are just some of the words used by audience members to describe Shen Yun Performing Arts during its March 3 performance at Le Corum.

“It’s absolutely exceptional, full of color,” he said.

“The 3D backdrop is magnificent, it’s wonderful, it’s magical, there’s no other word for it,” said Mr. Martinez, “because every moment you’re impressed by everything that’s happening on stage and everything that’s happening behind it. And the interaction between the stage and the 3D, frankly, it’s something I’ve never seen before.”

Seated in the orchestra pit in front of the stage, Shen Yun musicians perform original music live to accompany each dance, combining classical Western and Chinese instruments.

“It’s quite impressive. You can’t see them. So sometimes it’s a little frustrating ...” said Floréal Martinez. “And then there’s the baritone who sang. There, the quality is very high.”

“What moved me a little, well, actually a lot, was the scene depicting the abuses taking place in China,” remarks Mr. Martinez about the painting “A Heart of Diamond.”

“It still affects me,” said Mr. Martinez. “It’s quite exceptional to say it and do it. And contrary to popular belief, these things really do happen.”

This makes him say, “I’m glad I bought my tickets and came to see this show.”

In conclusion, Mr. Martinez says he will recommend the show to many people in his circle, explaining what he saw and telling his friends who are waiting to hear his impressions of Shen Yun that “it’s going very, very well.”

Christine and Didier Boidin were also among the audience at the March 3 performance at the Corum in Montpellier. The retired couple already says they will return to see Shen Yun again.

“Surprising, I really enjoyed it, it was very varied,” said Didier Boidin, former head of operations for all Carlton hotels in Europe, for the luxury division. “I found it very professional in terms of the rigor and discipline of the dancers; it was impressive.”

“I would say it was magical,” said Christine Boidin, former executive secretary. “Absolutely magical, it was fabulous. I loved it.”

The music played by the Shen Yun orchestra is composed specifically for each dance to express the emotions of the story and support the dancers’ movements.

“It adds so much, having a live orchestra like this. It’s much more engaging, it’s wonderful,” said Mrs. Boidin.

“Musically, it was very good, very impressive, and the variety of instruments was also good,” said Mr. Boidin, appreciating the fact that the show was accompanied by a live orchestra rather than a recorded soundtrack.

The man who was director of the Carlton Hotel in Cannes from 1994 to 2005 enjoyed the “beautiful return to history” on stage.

As for the fact that Shen Yun cannot perform in China, Didier Boidin hopes, “Maybe one day.” Christine Boidin believes that “it’s a shame. We must remain hopeful.”

Mr. Boidin notes that the values conveyed by Shen Yun, those of China before the advent of communism, are “the same values we see here.”

“Respect for traditions, respect for elders, the connection to a somewhat unique universe—it’s very similar to what we find in other civilizations,” he believes.

For Mrs. Boidin, Shen Yun offers “a different perspective on society, a different way of expressing things, but it’s superb.”

“You absolutely must come, it’s something you have to see, because it’s worth it,” she said. “And of course, we’ll be back.”