PORTLAND, Ore.—Opera singer and painter Kelly Barnson and her husband Jeff, a pilot, have always loved the arts and so decided to attend Shen Yun Performing Art’s evening performance at the Keller Auditorium on Jan 21.

As a fellow singer, Mrs. Barnson was delighted to hear Shen Yun’s soprano performance.

“I enjoyed her [singing.] It was beautiful. It’s very hard to sing in that language, so lovely,” she said.

Shen Yun’s singers are trained in the classical Bel Canto—a style known for its ability to create tones of unparalleled beauty and purity. Through original compositions and lyrics, the artists invite the listener to explore the deeper meanings of life.

Mr. Barnson, who has a deep love for tradition, was touched by the performers’ mission to revive traditional values and culture.

“I think it’s very important to reach back to the traditions of our forefathers,” he said, happy to see Shen Yun’s effort in preserving such a profound culture imbued with spirituality and artistry.

Endowed with 5,000 years of history, China was once known as the “Land of the Divine.” For millennia, its people believed that by keeping their hearts pure and adhering to strict moral standards, they would be blessed by the divine.

Indeed, for 5,000 years the country prospered. However, after the communist takeover and its spread of atheism, all this traditional culture was systematically brought to the brink of destruction. Today, Shen Yun’s mission is to bring back the beauty and goodness of pre-communist China.

Both deeply spiritual people, the Barnsons loved the artists’ message and thought it was beautifully expressed.

“I love the message. It’s a really, really nice spiritual message of peace and love and hope and God,” Mrs. Barnson said.

“We are both very spiritually grounded people. I would love if all the Chinese people could enjoy their peace and their freedom and their ability to worship. I would love that.”

Mr. Barson particularly enjoyed Shen Yun’s story dance depicting people of faith in China standing up and upholding their faith even in the face of brutal persecution at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.

“I liked the [piece about the persecution] where the young man was blinded, and then through God, was able to see again,” he said.

“Very spiritual. I wasn’t expecting it. So, it was nice to have a wholesome message.”

Upon learning that Shen Yun’s eight equally-sized groups perform around the world each year, Mrs. Barnson said, “It’s wonderful.” She emphasized that traditional Chinese culture is something everyone should have the chance to appreciate.

Each season, Shen Yun debuts a brand-new set of programs, ensuring a delightful surprise for both first-time and returning audiences.