ANTWERP—After the debut of the Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular in Belgium on Tuesday night, it was clear the audience was delighted with their experience.
Sophie, a secretary, said the show was "Like a fairy tale, it is like the scenery of a fairy tale. It's also about Zhen, Shan, Ren (Truth, Compassion, Tolerance). I think those are good principles."
"I liked the show very much, it was very special for a Belgian. The movements were nice, and the music was very nice."
In addition to classical Chinese dance, the Spectacular features music that includes solo performances from a virtuoso of the Erhu (also known as "the Chinese violin") as well as tenors, altos, and sopranos. Sophie commented on these.
"The Chinese violin was very nice. I had never heard it before. It has a very large range of sounds, it is very nice."
She also complimented the vocalists' singing and their songs. "The lyrics were well translated," she said.
Robert, a physiotherapist, said he liked the show a lot and that the audience was very engaged in and moved by the performance. He said, "There was no moment of weakness, it was always very amazing."
Robert thought the drumming at the end was fantastic and he felt the whole show provided encouragement to visit China, so much so that he thought he would perhaps make a trip down the 'Silk Road' in the near future.
When asked how he would describe the Spectacular to his friends, Robert said, "They have to see it."
When asked after the show of his impressions, Jeff Vertig, a retired PR worker, said "Good, good, good; especially the acts that are closely related to the Chinese tradition."
"The first and the last performances, and the dance with the bowls on the head I found extraordinarily beautiful," Jeff said, referring to the 'Mongolian Bowl Dance.'
Jeff found the music in the show unique.
"About the songs, I found it good, it is a different tonal system. I find it good, especially the deep alto voice."
Marleen Aartsen, a health care worker, attended the performance with Jettie Wouters, who owns a fashion shop.
Jettie described the show as, "high class, super."
Marleen said that she found the coloring in the costumes to be "fantastic" and that she thought the 'Mongolian Bowl Dance' was great, while Jettie's favourite performance was the drum piece.
Mevr Wauters, manager in an employment office, found the Spectacular more "distinguished, controlled, very beautiful and elegant", compared with traditional Belgiun shows.
"The traditional elements are visible through the discipline, the Chinese people are more controlled and you can see that in their facial expressions," he said.
"The music was also very nice, especially the drums, because it gave some more action. The feeling it gave me was one of nostalgia, I would like to go back to China—so it is a positive feeling.
"I find it very beautiful," Mr. Wauters said.
For information about upcoming Divine Performing Arts shows, please visit: www.DivinePerformingArts.org.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese Spectacular. For our complete coverage please visit: http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008/
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