Shen Yun ‘An Oasis’ for Renowned Journalist

BUENOS AIRES—For the past week audience members at Teatro Ópera Citi have been overjoyed to see Shen Yun Performing Arts.

Fanny Mandelbaum, renowned journalist and television personality, had some of the most effusive praise yet.

“It makes your soul rest,” she said after seeing Shen Yun on Dec. 21. “You come out and you can’t believe that outside there is so much noise—it is as if you would have gone into an oasis.

Shen Yun, based in New York, traverses the globe every year purveying one of the oldest cultures in the world. At the core of a Shen Yun performance is classical Chinese dance, an ancient art form almost as old as the 5,000 year old culture itself; accompanying the dancers (who are adorned with handmade costumes) are tenors and sopranos, digital backdrops, and an orchestra that combines both classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments.

“I thought it was amazing,” said Mrs. Mandelbaum, “Not only the show, but the choreography, the costumes, the quality of colors.”

But Shen Yun does not just present a high level of artistry.

“Sophisticated dance techniques, an orchestra joining instruments East and West, beautiful costumes, and a stunning back drop—this is Shen Yun at first glance,” states the company’s website.

“But digging deeper, one discovers a sea of traditional Chinese culture. Mortals and divine beings merge on stage as one. Principles such as benevolence and justice, propriety and wisdom, respect for the heavens, and divine retribution, all come to life, washing over the audience. Originating from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, these ideals are the essence of traditional Chinese culture.”

Mrs. Mandelbaum said that seeing Shen Yun was like “entering a special place.”

“I closed my eyes and I could feel as if something was embracing me, as if it was [a] crystal eggshell.”

Furthermore, Mrs. Mandelbaum felt divinity being imparted through the performance.

“You feel that the heavenly can exist, and that indeed one needs to look more to the heavens,” she said.

The different aspects of the performance enthralled Mrs. Mandelbaum. She loved the backdrops, which Shen Yun’s website describe as “magical windows to completely different realms.”

She also enjoyed the orchestra, which “seamlessly blend[s]” the typically disparate sounds of East and West, according to the company’s website.

“This is how the effect is achieved: A Western philharmonic orchestra plays the foundation, while traditional Chinese instruments lead the melodies. The sound produced is uniquely pleasing to the ear. The ensemble at once expresses both the grandeur of a Western orchestra and the distinct sensibilities of China’s 5,000-year-old civilization.”

“Great!” Mrs. Mandelbaum exclaimed. “The combination of Western sounds with Asian sounds adds a special thing to it, and the conductor was fantastic, the orchestra conductor.”

Reporting by Andres Auzunbud and Zachary Stieber.

New York-based Shen Yun has three companies that tour the world each year on a mission to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org

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