On the evening of Jan. 16, the Shen Yun New York Company presented its fourth performance of the season in Milan at the Teatro degli Arcimboldi. Once again, the production was met with two standing ovations from a sold-out show, with some attendees rising and applauding with both hands raised high.

Milan City Council Member: Shen Yun ‘Conveys Positive Values’

“This is a beautiful show; we are so excited!” said Francesco Rocca, a Milan City Council member attending Shen Yun for the first time. He praised the production’s artistic grandeur, adding that “the message conveyed is truly impressive and will stay in my heart forever.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Its mission is to revive China’s traditional culture as it existed before decades of communist rule nearly destroyed it.

Mr. Rocca said he was not only visually and aurally impressed, but also felt the power of a strong positive on both a physical and emotional level. “I really felt it,” he said. “I could feel it from both the dance and the music.”

Refined over five millennia, classical Chinese dance is a profound art form known for its exceptional expressive power. The superb technique and cultural depth demonstrated by Shen Yun’s artists fully captivated Mr. Rocca.

“The artistry is of high caliber. They are professional performing artists, and they have dedicated a tremendous amount of effort,” he said. “Their interpretation is intricate, and their technique is masterful, full of creativity.”

“Presenting such a show requires a great deal of research and learning,” Mr. Rocca added. “Only the synergy of ardent dedication and artistic ingenuity could truly create such a beautiful program that leaves a profound impression on the audience’s hearts and minds.”

Mr. Rocca also expressed admiration for Shen Yun’s portrayal of pre-communist China and its use of art to expose the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

“I think communism operates the same way everywhere in the world,” he stated. “Unfortunately, since 1949, almost no one—especially outside of China—has been willing to expose the evil deeds that communism has done and continues to do in China.”

He went on to say, “Western democratic countries should pay more attention to these issues and publicly expose them more, especially the persecution suffered by this community. This can be seen and felt in the show.”

Mr. Rocca believes Shen Yun carries significant positive meaning for society. “It conveys positive values, including mutual respect, brotherhood, and respect for others and oneself,” he remarked. “What I truly felt was that they are constantly striving for inner balance.”

Reflecting on the performance as a whole, he said he gained deeply from the experience. “What remains in my heart, of course, is the wonderful choreography and the vibrant colors. But even with such richness, the entire show remains balanced. What I noticed most was a sense of inner peace.”

Upon learning that this year marks the 20th anniversary of Shen Yun’s global touring and that the company has grown from one performing group to eight, Mr. Rocca expressed his admiration and best wishes to the artistic director and performers.

“Congratulations to him on his achievements in professionalism and creativity, and on everything he has imparted to the performers,” Mr. Rocca said. “I hope they can continue to tour more countries and spread these positive messages and the values of Falun Gong to the world.”

Chief Marketing Officer of National Television: ‘Entering Another World’

“This was a very moving and captivating show,” said renowned Chief Marketing Officer Mr. Marco Robiati after watching Shen Yun. He remarked that the entire performance was pure and beautiful, adding that it deeply touched him and made him feel as though he had traveled through time.

Mr. Robiati spoke from the heart, saying, “Shen Yun can take you to another world; it’s truly spectacular.”

Mr. Robiati currently serves as the chief marketing officer of RAI, Italy’s national public television and radio broadcaster, and as president of the Italian Television Advertising and Media Industry Association. RAI provides news, entertainment, cultural, and educational programming throughout Italy.

Recalling the moment the curtain rose, Mr. Robiati said, “At that moment, it felt as if I were transported to another world, allowing me to temporarily escape my constraints and enter another realm.”

He said the traditional Chinese cultural values conveyed by Shen Yun—particularly kindness and compassion—gave him a profoundly uplifting experience. “The show conveyed a message of peace, tranquility, and connection with one another, which was truly magnificent,” he said.

Mr. Robiati also expressed admiration for the Shen Yun artists’ efforts to revive traditional culture that was destroyed by the Chinese Communist Party and give it new life. “The love they poured into the dance and creation gave the entire show a powerful energy,” he praised.

He added that he hoped “as many people as possible can see it and experience it firsthand.”

Mr. Robiati’s wife, Ms. Sua Moglie, also repeatedly praised the performance. “This was truly exciting—so beautiful, simply unbelievable,” she said.

Ms. Moglie added, “Their talent is undeniable; it was like a dream. They are truly incredibly gifted.”

Orchestra Director and Principal Conductor: Shen Yun Music Is ‘Very Good for the Spirits’

After watching the first half of the Shen Yun performance, orchestra director and principal conductor Mr. Rino Grice praised the music as “very relaxing, very soothing, very good for the spirits.”

Mr. Grice and his family attended the performance together and described the experience as “very impressive.”

A British national, Mr. Grice owns a music school in the United Kingdom and currently resides in Milan. In 2015, he and his wife co-founded the Milan 8note Orchestra. Serving as its music director and principal conductor, he is also responsible for the orchestra’s musical arrangements. His ensemble has performed at prominent venues including Sala Verdi, Teatro Mahler, and the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio. He has received the “Best Music Director” award for two musicals.

As a professional musician, Mr. Grice said he was particularly impressed by Shen Yun Performing Arts’ live orchestra, which seamlessly blends Eastern and Western musical traditions. “I love the Chinese sound and the instruments. It’s a peaceful sound,” he said.

Traditional Chinese culture often regards music as a form of medicine, a view Mr. Grice agreed with. “It should be. It still is,” he said, adding that Shen Yun’s music is “very relaxing, very soothing, very good for the spirits.”

Shen Yun is a world-class classical Chinese dance company, and Mr. Grice said he was equally captivated by the precision and unity of the dancers on stage. “Incredible precision, discipline. This type of dancing—all precisely, all at the same time,” he remarked.

Dedicated to reviving traditional Chinese culture, Shen Yun interprets core values such as karmic retribution and reverence for heaven and the divine through a series of vivid dance dramas.

Mr. Grice noted that these themes resonate across cultures. “We have these stories in Europe and in the Americas. These stories exist all over the world, because the moral of each tale is something we’ve all learned as we’ve grown,” he said.

Internationally Renowned Model and Actress: Shen Yun Brings the ‘Most Important Inspirations for Life’

“Congratulations to them—they are truly outstanding!” said Ms. Madalina Ghenea, an internationally renowned model, actress, and social activist, as she praised the Shen Yun artists. “They are excellent and incredibly talented,” she added.

Ms. Ghenea emphasized that “the message conveyed by the performance is particularly crucial,” noting that it offers “the most important inspirations for life” in today’s world.

Placing great importance on education, Ms. Ghenea brought her daughter to see Shen Yun. “We absolutely loved the performance, and I’m trying to teach my daughter how to be disciplined,” she said. After the show, she felt that goal had been fulfilled. “The artists are extremely passionate, full of love for art, and at the same time, they are very disciplined.”

Ms. Ghenea shared that her daughter, Charlotte, also has a deep love for the arts. “She loves to sing and dance, and she especially loves classical Chinese dance,” she said.

She noted that the traditional values revived by Shen Yun are especially beneficial in modern society. “This is crucial, particularly in the society we are living in now, where people have almost no empathy,” she said.

The universal values of “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” presented by Shen Yun further strengthened Ms. Ghenea’s belief in helping others. “Understanding that when one gives generously, one receives even more, is an extremely important principle,” she said. “In my life, every time I have helped others, I have ultimately received more in return. Therefore, I believe this is perhaps the most important inspiration for life today.”

Ms. Ghenea recommended Shen Yun to others, saying, “The performance conveys a very important message. Unfortunately, the world we are experiencing now—the things we see every day—are not ideal. The world is in conflict, and the message brought by Shen Yun might help change some of the current situation.”

She added, “We will definitely come again next year.”

Ms. Ghenea is an internationally acclaimed model and actress who has received numerous awards. She has appeared in several well-known films, including the award-winning productions “Youth” and “House of Gucci.” She is also widely recognized for her appearances on popular television programs such as ‘Ballando con le Stelle’ ('Dancing with the Stars’). In addition, she has long been involved in charitable work and is widely regarded as an active international social activist.

Reporting by NTD, Alessandro Starnoni, and Olivia Li.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.