The evening marked the eighth stop on Shen Yun’s 2026 tour of Italy. As in other cities across the country, the Avellino audience responded with sustained applause and warm enthusiasm. Public officials and community leaders were among those in attendance, and many theatergoers said they were deeply moved—not only by the company’s exceptional artistry, but also by the depth of meaning conveyed through its storytelling.

Having watched Shen Yun for the third time, Sergio Rastrelli said he now considers himself a loyal admirer of the performance.

Mr. Rastrelli is a veteran attorney who was elected to the Italian Senate in 2022. His father, Antonio Rastrelli, is a senior Italian political figure who previously served as President of the Campania Region.

Describing his impressions of the show, Mr. Rastrelli said, “It is a sumptuous, superb, and moving performance. Its extraordinary tribute to the millennia-old culture of China before communism—and without communism—is a cultural and spiritual heritage that must not be lost.”

Mr. Rastrelli noted that the production’s artistic elements come together to form a powerful spiritual experience. “The interplay of colors, the musical accents, and the coordination of the movements are all small pieces of a great mosaic that allows us to share in a spiritual uplift,” he said. “At times in the theater, one could truly feel the breath of the divine spirit—this is Shen Yun.”

Beyond technical excellence, Mr. Rastrelli emphasized Shen Yun’s deeper impact. “It must spark moments of reflection. The enjoyment of artistic virtuosity alone is not enough, because behind every story and every scene there are meanings that we must continue to contemplate in order to fully appreciate them.”

“Come see this performance, because it fills your eyes and your soul,” said Maria Russo, vice mayor of Sant’Agnello in Italy’s Province of Naples, after attending the performance.

Ms. Russo said she was most struck by the dancers’ expressive lightness and the kindness conveyed on stage.

“I’m taking away the lightness with which they expressed themselves and the ability to convey a great emotion toward kindness. This has been the most important feeling,” she said.

Shen Yun, which means “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” resonated deeply with her. She said she clearly felt the spiritual dimension of the production.

“Certainly, religion is the most present thing—the intimate and the divine connected. Absolutely yes,” she said.

According to Ms. Russo, the values expressed on stage are essential in daily life. “In everyday life, it is fundamental for all of us to have the ability to connect; otherwise, we do not have good relationships with others. This is absolutely important.”

Giorgio Rossini, an entrepreneur and craftsman specializing in electrical systems, and his wife, also an entrepreneur, were among the audience.

Ms. Alfano, who works in the anti-aging field, said she was deeply impressed by the dancers’ precision and grace. “I was truly amazed by how synchronized they are and by their grace,” she said. “It’s a lesson for us Westerners to see so many people so united, all moving together. They touch the heart—really, congratulations.”

Mr. Rossini said he was particularly moved by the storytelling and technical precision. “I really liked the stories—the narration of events,” he said. “The synchronism they have in dancing surprised me a lot.”

Asked which element stood out most, he replied simply, “Everything.”

Ms. Alfano agreed, though she noted that the opening and closing pieces left a particularly strong impression. “It’s really difficult to choose, but the first and the last pieces impressed me a lot. The colors—everything was beautiful, truly beautiful.”

Reflecting on the performance’s message, Ms. Alfano said it encouraged her to rethink life’s priorities. “What I perceived is that life is something else entirely, and we need to pay attention to true values. We must not let ourselves be attracted by outward appearance, but go deeper and truly understand what life is. That’s what I understood.”

Mr. Rossini summarized his takeaway in a few words: “Feeling more connected to the divine.”

He added that traditional values are “very, very much” needed in today’s world. Ms. Alfano agreed: “Right now more than ever, in my opinion.”

The couple also praised the soprano soloist. Ms. Alfano described her voice as “a nightingale—beautiful,” while Mr. Rossini said the lyrics were “very interesting.”

As for a message to the artists, Mr. Rossini said simply, “Chapeau.” Ms. Alfano echoed his sentiment: “Bravo! Bravo!”