FRANKFURT, Germany—On the afternoon and evening of May 3, Shen Yun World Company presented its second and third performances at Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt as part of its 2026 world tour. Both shows were sold out months in advance, with the theater adding extra seating multiple times to meet demand. Some audience members said they had purchased tickets as early as last year in order to secure good seats.

At the conclusion of the performances, many audience members rose to their feet in applause, expressing deep appreciation for the artists.

Prof. Eduard Zwierlein said he deeply appreciated the traditional values conveyed in Shen Yun.

“The beauty of the dance, the stage design, and the performers’ presence was truly impressive,” Mr. Zwierlein said. “At the same time, the values being conveyed also left a strong impression. These are values we truly need—fairness, kindness, and justice.”

Prof. Zwierlein is a philosopher, author, and owner of a business consulting firm. His research focuses on philosophical anthropology, philosophy of mind, and epistemology, and he has authored numerous works. His consulting company has been operating for more than 25 years, serving clients in the healthcare and social sectors. His wife, Sabine Zwierlein-Rockenfeller, is also a business consultant and author, with publications in areas including medical psychology.

Mr. Zwierlein said he felt fortunate that he and his wife had purchased tickets well in advance.

“I saw a clip online last year, and it made me curious,” he said. “We were lucky to still get tickets, and we had very good seats in the third row. I’ve heard now that it’s sold out through 2027, so it wasn’t easy.”

He added that what captivated him most was the overall aesthetic experience of the performance.

“It was simply beautiful—full of aesthetic refinement,” he said. “The stories were wonderful, and the way they were presented, with such artistic beauty and the performers’ radiance, brought great joy.”

He emphasized that the values conveyed in the performance are especially meaningful today.

“I would say values like fairness, justice, and also compassion—being able to give, like in the story of the beggar child,” he said. “Kindness, justice, compassion. It is extremely important to bring these values forward again and truly live by them—these are beautiful values that we saw, and they are values we all need.”

Mr. Zwierlein expressed regret that Shen Yun cannot currently perform in China.

“It is rather sad,” he said. “These values are universal—they are needed all over the world, including in China. It would be good if there were respect to allow this ancient culture to be lived in its country of origin.”

In his view, the performance ultimately demonstrates the importance of connecting past and present.

“In the end, it showed that tradition and the present belong together,” he said. “One is the source, and the other—we need it. Our society needs it.”

“The combination of Western and Eastern instruments worked very well,” Mr. Zwierlein said. “Music is also a language that connects us all. It was wonderful. In that sense, it is universal—just like the values being conveyed.”

Mrs. Zwierlein-Rockenfeller said the music moved her deeply.

“The music was something European ears can appreciate very well—the combination of Eastern and Western styles was extremely successful,” she said. “The singing was also very beautiful. It’s the kind of music that really moves me, and the lyrics are inspiring.”

“There are definitely spiritual values,” she said. “There is this sense of the divine in the background, and the question of what that means in different cultures. But we all share this idea of a Creator.”

She added that the performance highlighted the importance of returning to traditional values.

“These values are truly conveyed by the young performers,” she said. “It is extremely important to bring these values forward again and truly live by them. We all need them in our lives.”

Mrs. Zwierlein-Rockenfeller said she would highly recommend the performance.

Also in attendance were clinic owner Ariane Schröder and retired naturopath Michael Fröhlich.

Dr. Schröder is an orthopedic physician with her own practice, while Mr. Fröhlich previously worked as a naturopath and ran his own clinic.

Mr. Fröhlich praised the performance highly. “Very artistic, very friendly, very optimistic,” he said. “The quality of the dancers is high. I am impressed.”

“The dance skills, especially of the female dancers, were remarkable,” she said. “I had the feeling they were floating across the stage—such control and grace.”

The live music and its integration with the dance also left a strong impression on her.

“I was very impressed that in the Mongolian dance, the male dancers actually reproduced the rhythm of galloping horses that was played in the music,” she said. “You really felt drawn into the scene.”

Both also praised the technical aspects of the production. Mr. Fröhlich highlighted the three-dimensional animated backdrop, calling it “very clever.”

He also appreciated the portrayal of traditional roles on stage.

“What I liked was that it showed, without hidden motives, that there are men and women, and they are different,” he said. “Men express strength through the dance, women express grace and femininity. That all has its place—it is very beautiful.”

Mr. Fröhlich added that, although he was somewhat familiar with Chinese culture, the performance provided an opportunity to “bring the culture closer.”

He said he would recommend Shen Yun to others.

“I would tell them that you can let yourself be enchanted by something different—something you may not yet know,” he said. “It is the refinement in Asian culture.”