VALENCIA, Spain—On the evening of March 7, the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts opened its run in Valencia, Spain, with its first performance at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía. The theater was filled to capacity, and the audience responded with warm enthusiasm.
Among those in attendance was Miguel Pascual Pérez, a member of the Valencian Parliament and an architect. After the performance, he said the beauty of Shen Yun left him deeply captivated and at a loss for words, adding that he hopes the company will one day be able to perform in China.
Describing the artistic presentation, Mr. Pascual said the performance’s visual and musical elements were particularly moving. “The staging and the music are truly intoxicating—fantastic,” he said. “Honestly, I’m left without words.”
Mr. Pascual is a member of the Spanish conservative party Vox and an important representative of the party in Alicante Province. He was elected to the Valencian Parliament in 2023.
“The truth is that I found it special and spectacular,” Mr. Pascual said. “It is undoubtedly an honor to have this kind of event here in the city of Valencia. It allows us to delve into Chinese culture—the traditional and ancient culture of China—and it is something very, very special. We are truly grateful to have them here.”
Reflecting on the meaning of the piece, Mr. Pascual said it expressed humanity’s universal aspiration toward the divine. “The search for reaching the kingdom of heaven—the inner struggle each of us goes through to reach that heavenly destination—is something fantastic,” he said. “At the end of the day, I believe that all of us, in any culture, aspire to that. I really liked it very much.”
“We think it is very serious,” he said. “Chinese culture is an ancient culture, and it is unheard of that shows like this can be seen and enjoyed all over the world except precisely in their place of origin, which is China. Communism has certainly been one of the greatest scourges in the world, and unfortunately, it continues to be so today.”
He also criticized attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to interfere with Shen Yun performances outside China, including reported pressure on theaters abroad.
“It is unfortunate that even outside China there are still attempts to coerce and prevent this type of show,” Mr. Pascual said. “After all, it simply brings an ancient culture to the world and allows people to learn about it. The fact that the Chinese Communist Party continues to persecute it is truly a disgrace.”
“I would tell them that twenty years is nothing—that they must keep going and continue working to bring Chinese culture to the whole world,” he said. “And hopefully one day this kind of performance can also return to China.”
Mr. Pascual added that he would strongly recommend the show to others and described it as a unique cultural experience.
“I would tell people they should definitely come and see it because it is something unique,” he said. “I came today with my wife because she is also a big admirer, and she had to see it. She is delighted as well—just like me.”
