FRANKFURT, Germany—On the evening of May 3, New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts presented its third performance at Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt, drawing audiences eager to experience its celebrated artistry and cultural depth. Among them was insurance company owner Peter Christophi, who shared his reflections of the performance.
“This is already the fourth time I’ve seen Shen Yun. In previous years, I saw it three times in Füssen, and this year here in Frankfurt,” Mr. Christophi said, speaking enthusiastically about his continued appreciation for the production.
He was particularly impressed by Shen Yun’s exquisite costumes, noting their deep roots in traditional Chinese culture.
“The variety of the costumes is really remarkable,” Mr. Christophi said. “This is thousands of years of traditional history—it goes back a very long way.”
“What moves the heart most is, of course, partly the melodies, but also the instrument itself—the one with two strings,” he said. “It sounds very beautiful. You don’t hear it often, but it’s really wonderful. Especially the way she plays—producing such beautiful tones with just two strings—that is truly impressive.”
Having seen Shen Yun multiple times, Mr. Christophi said he has come to appreciate that beyond its artistic beauty, the performance conveys deeper cultural meaning.
“These stories carry very ancient history—thousands of years of cultural heritage,” he said. “There is also a strong element of the divine, connected to faith. In Western culture, these values also exist. At a fundamental level, there are many similarities.”
Reflecting on the baritone’s performance, Mr. Christophi said the message about modern society particularly resonated with him.
“In one song sung by a baritone, the lyrics mentioned that values today are becoming more and more corrupted, and I think that is really true,” he said. “The way people treat each other is changing. Many values are being ignored or even trampled on. I remember my father in the 1950s and 60s—people dressed properly when they went out, and there was respect for elders.”
Expressing a sense of sadness, he continued, “Today, when I see how some young people behave toward older people, it really feels like values are being lost. That was also expressed in the song, and I think it is very accurate. This revival of traditional values is something positive—it helps bring these values back to attention around the world.”
He believes these values carry positive significance for today’s society. At the same time, he expressed regret upon learning that Shen Yun is currently unable to perform in China, as the ruling Chinese Communist regime seeks to erase and destroy the very culture the company strives to preserve and share.
“I think it is very unfortunate that these things cannot be presented in China,” he said. “It is as if ancient history and culture are being undermined. It would be the same as if Greece no longer preserved its ancient history and its democracy—that would be unimaginable. After all, this is China’s own culture and history.”
