BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—He has played piano with some of the world’s top-tier orchestras and conductors like Leonard Bernstein. Uruguay-born pianist Homero Francesch called New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts a “great revelation” as he watched a performance in Buenos Aires last week.
Moving through a “landscape that I didn’t know,” he said, Mr. Francesch followed dozens of dancers on a journey through Chinese history, accompanied by the original sounds of Shen Yun’s orchestra. The artists told of ancient myths and spirituality onstage through classical Chinese dance, celebrating what was “China before communism.”
“I see that they are led by a very great spirituality,” Mr. Francesch told The Epoch Times, speaking from Teatro Ópera. “And they transmit that to the audience as well.”
Then he added: “I believe their strength lies in demonstrating that the human being is good.”
Besides the uplifting spiritual messages, there were dozens of dancers displaying consummate art in every movement, the pianist said.
“The second thing that really catches my attention is the technical capacity they have,” he said. “Because it isn’t just a stunt; it is really a very great technical capacity, a training that is enormous, right? That is something to be truly valued.”
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Shen Yun continues to tour the world, reconnecting people with a culture that was “almost lost” during China’s destructive Cultural Revolution and raising awareness about the ongoing brutal persecution of people of faith under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Many of Shen Yun’s artists practice a traditional belief system, Falun Dafa, that is banned in China, and have fled to America for freedom of religion. They helped establish Shen Yun to tell a fuller story of China.
Since its inception, the company has faced pressure in getting its message out to the world. The CCP fears the group, which has been banned from performing in China, with the regime’s pressure even causing some theaters in the West, including a venue in Toronto recently, to bow to threats and prevent Shen Yun from performing.
Mr. Francesch says he understands why some might have different views from Shen Yun’s, but “even if you don’t agree with something, you have to see it because the physical and artistic values they have are very great.” He added: “I believe one knows far too little to criticize what they are doing.”
Given the chance, he said he would tell the artists and their director: “Bravo!”
‘Love and Altruism’
Arturo Figueroa (R) and company attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at Teatro Ópera in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 19, 2026. Mary Man/The Epoch Times
Mr. Figueroa responded with words. “It is a very brave mission given the obstacle they face from the same system over there in China that openly represses them,“ he said. ”It is known that there is some repression against Falun Dafa, but their spiritual teachings and everything they do to promote human growth are wonderful.”
Watching the tales play out, and the interactions among the various characters in Chinese history, spoke volumes about the values Shen Yun aims to revive through its art, Mr. Figueroa said.
“That we must be on good terms with our neighbors,” he said of the message. “There is a coming, as announced [in the final dance segment], the return of the Creator. It is very probable, and it is very common in the beliefs of all religions, that there is an end and a return of something good for humanity.”
Reporting by Mary Man, Sally Sun, and Michael Wing.
