FLORENCE, Italy—Opera originated in Italy, and that’s exactly where Shen Yun Performing Arts Global Company began its tour of Europe for its 2023–2024 season.
The director of Dante Academy Florence, Stefania Maggini, was in the audience for Shen Yun’s first performance this year at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and she was struck by the singing technique of Shen Yun’s singers.
She remarked that Shen Yun’s soprano was using the bel canto technique, the traditional singing technique used prominently in Italian opera.
“It was interesting that [it’s not Peking] opera,” said Ms. Maggini.
According to Shen Yun’s website, “Ancient Chinese theater and early European opera shared the same singing technique; Chinese theater often used a natural method of singing that in essence was no different from bel canto.”
For a performer to sing Chinese text using the bel canto technique means that the performer “must, while meeting the challenges inherent in bel canto, retain proper Chinese pronunciation and diction. Meanwhile, their original lyrics relay touching messages probing the deeper meaning of life,” the website adds.
There are many other aspects that make Shen Yun a unique performance as well.
“The digital backdrop was done extraordinarily,” said Ms. Maggini.
“This was from history, and it’s something we need—we need it even more than we need the air,” she said.
‘The music is very pleasant and beautiful’
Claudio Marinangeli, a veterinarian, and his wife, Tiana, traveled from Rome to catch Shen Yun in Florence on Dec. 30.
Shen Yun’s website tells us that China was once known as the land of the Divine, but much of this divine culture was lost when the Chinese communist party took power.
“Traditional China is very beautiful, but it is a pity that communism has obviously made her sink, destroying that culture. Now, we do not understand the real Chinese tradition—we only see modern China. Actually, ancient China was completely different from communism,” said Mr. Marinangeli.
“The music is very pleasant and beautiful. They perfectly combine Eastern and Western instruments—very unique,” said Mr. Marinangeli.
“The initial timbre of the erhu solo was very melancholy. I thought that this instrument might not have other timbres, but then she came to life with different sounds and dynamics, and I fell in love with her right away,” said Mr. Marinangeli.
His wife also expressed that the erhu solo left a deep impression on her.
“While listening to the music, I once closed my eyes and quietly enjoyed this wonderful music. She left a very deep impression on me and brought me something extraordinary. It was very exciting,” said Mrs. Marinangeli.
Shen Yun’s dancers rehearse and practice to improve their technique day after day, but they improve themselves as people as well.
Mrs. Marinangeli shared her wish to see Shen Yun perform in Rome again.
“I will watch Shen Yun next year, and I hope Shen Yun can perform in Rome again,” she said.
