MONTREAL—“Everything from start to finish was incredible!” Tanya Fernandes said after watching Shen Yun on April 12 at the Place de Arts.
Along with other theatergoers, Ms. Fernandes got a glimpse of the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, and was moved by the “spectacular” performance and the spiritual message Shen Yun conveys.
New York-based
Shen Yun Performing Arts was founded in 2006 by elite Chinese artists with a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun tours around the world each year, performing at prestigious theaters in over 200 cities.
Ms. Fernandes, owner of a renovation company, said, “It was a great show, it was beautiful, spectacular! The costumes, the dancing, the singing, the music. Everything from start to finish was incredible. And it kept you engaged.”
A Shen Yun performance features singers who sing in the traditional
bel canto technique that was used in early European opera. Shen Yun singers sing in Chinese. The lyrics of the songs are original compositions written in Chinese and then translated and projected on the backdrop. The lyrics, reflecting on human life with deep layers of meaning, traverse the boundaries of race and nation.
“The singing was just amazing,” Ms. Fernandes said, “the translation of the lyrics on the backdrop was very spiritual. It’s beautiful.”
“I think overall [
Shen Yun] carries a spiritual message that there’s a bigger power than us, and that as long as we do good in life, we could go on to reach that level, if we continue to do good in the world.”
Ms. Fernandes said that she enjoyed the final piece, which depicts the Creator’s return, “It was a beautiful message. We’re looking forward to next year’s show!”
Reporting by Donna Liang and Sophia Fang.
