LUDWIGSBERG, Germany—Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company held the first of two shows in the Forum am Schlosspark, April 20, before an enthusiastic audience.
Bernd Olaf Fiebrandt, a technical director of the Printers’ Association in Baden-Württemberg and a printed products consultant, couldn’t stop talking about the beauty of the New York-based Shen Yun presentation. “Absolutely fantastic! Absolutely beautiful,” he said.
“I’m at a loss for words. The show touches the person from deep inside. Absolutely everything is unique and not just from the technical point but also from the emotions. This includes the choreography, the precision and, naturally, the artistic expression. One experiences a lot and it is just wonderful.”
Two emcees introduced each scene in both Chinese and German, helping the audience understand what they were about to see. This arrangement was well appreciated by Mr. Fiebrandt.
“The dancers’ expression and movements were so meaningful and my feelings were deepened from what I heard during the introductions by the hosts.”
He was certain that everyone in the audience felt just as he did.
“The show brings to the audience a feeling of comfort, even to those who generally have no contact with Chinese music or culture. This show is a perfect introduction to Chinese culture.”
As an amateur musician, playing the flute, he was deeply touched by the music he heard in the background throughout the show.
“It was impressive, as well as beautiful, listening to the music and hearing the interaction between the classical instruments and the folk-type instruments.”
Pictures on the pioneering backdrop gave the show a special ambience that not many of the audience members had experienced before.
“What was most unique were the pictures on the backdrop, especially the one with the plum blossoms. It was such a harmonic display, seeing the blooms opening and closing, closing and opening—it was fantastic.”
Then, with a giggle, he spoke of the monks in the story dance, Little Mischievous Monks. In this scene, young Buddhist monks engage in a little of their own training while the abbot is away.
“There was something for everyone in this show. Sometimes the atmosphere was jovial, sometimes funny, and at times serious and tragic. This truly impressed me deeply.
“This kind of presentation should be availale more often because it enriches the person and makes one feel good.”
Then, Mr. Fiebrandt wanted to share his thoughts about Falun Gong, a spiritual practice that is persecuted in China.
“In my opinion, movements such as Falun Gong are persecuted because they bring freedom to people and they make people freer,” he said.
“I was deeply impressed with this show and I’m certain that I will dream about this show tonight.”
Reporting by Alexander M Hamrle and Heide B. Malhotra.
Shen Yun Performing Arts will perform next in Stockholm, Sweden, then Vienna, Austria. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
