NEW YORK -The Chinese New Year Splendor, a showcase of classical Chinese culture, impressed audiences for the sixth night in a row at Radio City Music Hall. Produced by New York-based Divine Performing Arts, the show plays through the Chinese New Year with the last show on Feb. 9.
Farai Malianga and Saycon Singbloh, two New York artists, applauded the Chinese New Year Splendor.
"I enjoyed the show, it was beautiful. I love to see beautiful costumes, and makeup - sparkly -and the backdrops, the computer generated backdrops, that was amazing! It was very lifelike. I also enjoyed the individual singers, the sopranos and the baritones. I enjoyed that." A singer and actress by trade, Saycon continued, "I didn't know that that was going to be part of the show, so I enjoyed that as well."
Farai, a professional drummer, smiled when the show ended. "I loved the drums of course! I enjoyed that aspect of it, so I was glad it ended with that piece. The orchestra sounded so good! We said, 'Oh! Orchestra! That is great!'"
The stories told through music and dance stood out to Farai and Saycon. "Each piece has a storyline. It has all levels, so it is not only entertaining, but also has a story in each one."
"When they said 'Some of these things [the show presents] you cannot see when you go to China,' it was amazing to hear that," Saycon said, "because it is such beautiful expression. I just cannot imagine not being able to express myself, being a singer and actress. We cannot imagine that. This is so beautiful, so well trained and it takes so much discipline, and studying it is just so honorable," Saycon sympathized with the Chinese artists who have such moral conviction and face such opposition. "To not be able to do [performing art]? I cannot even imagine! I would feel very trapped!"
Farai agreed, "That is all we do, we spend all our time doing that; we do songs, we do music, and just to think that you can be in a place where you cannot do that, especially with a cultural heritage as strong as China's … It is not like a personal experience only. It's about culture and heritage in history, and so all that stuff being blocked and people not being able to express themselves, it is pretty sad."
The Chinese New Year Spectacular continues in New York through Saturday, Feb. 9. at Radio City Music Hall. For other shows in the Divine Performing Arts world tour, please visit: www.DivinePerformingArts.org The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese New Year Spectacular.