'I was deeply entranced with the whole performance'

EDMONTON—Joseph Mafe, a City of Edmonton employee, saw the season finale of the Chinese Spectacular at Edmonton's Jubilee Auditorium on Wednesday evening with his wife, Anna Schupak and his daughter Bruni Beg.

"It was wonderful, it was really colorful and a perfect performance. And the artists, we hope they come back next year again," said Beg, adding that it was their first time seeing the show.

Beg, a legal interpreter, was impressed by everything in the show.

"Everything — the colors, the performance, the artistry, the coordination, the symphony of colors, the music and the orchestra — just perfect."

Mafe said he thoroughly appreciated the show's tenor, Hong Ming, likening him to Pavarotti.

"The part that I really appreciate was the singer, the tenor. Oh, the voice, that singer could be one of the best opera singers."

"This one is better than Pavarotti. Oh yes, the voice. I don't know if he sings opera but would be one of the best if he did," he said.

Anna Schupak is also retired and formerly worked for the Provincial Government. She was born in Shanghai, however her parents are Russian. She deeply appreciated many aspects of the show.

"I was deeply entranced with the whole performance. The technical knowledge, the colorfulness of the costumes and the music; because I was born in Shanghai, that's why I need extra [program books] to send to some friends."

"Because we came to Canada from Brazil, but I was born in Shanghai, my parents were Russians, and so I really have to be here tonight. It was just, it was good for my soul, and for my eyes and everything, so I'm so, so happy."

Referring to some parts of the show depicting human rights abuses in modern-day China, Schupak said, "For us too, we always fight for freedom no matter where we live."

"I did not know that this is your second time in Edmonton. I thought it was the first time, so we missed last year. I hope I will not miss next year when you come back again."

She concluded, "We are going to mention [this show] to other friends so next year hopefully we are going to have an even larger group to attend."