(Clearwisdom.net) The last performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts in Europe was held at the RAI Theater in Amsterdam on April 19. An appreciative audience responded with much applause throughout the performance and a long standing ovation at the end.

Mr. van Wel, a composer, arranger, and conductor, was very impressed with the abilities of the erhu player. "This was extremely well done, because she [matched] the intonation of the piano. Normally, you hear imperfect sounds, but now it was perfect because she took on the intonation of the piano. She can change, but the piano cannot. And this is very, very difficult. But it was such rich intonation and beautiful. And then the message from [the singing] is very strong ...for me, it was fantastic."

Mrs. van Wel, who is originally from Indonesia, said, "I can't understand--because I'm a Christian, and I've got my opinion, and it's allowed here to be a Christian--I can't understand why people who think otherwise cannot be accepted in their own country." She was alluding to the persecution of Falun Gong banned in China that is portrayed in the performance, "Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution."

Mr. van Wel added, "There is a difference, especially in the Netherlands, which is at the forefront of personal freedom even in comparison to the United States or other countries in Europe. So for our mindset, it's very difficult to understand. "

About the dancing, he said, "If a performance like this creates aesthetics, then you have harmony in yourself, because then the beauty of the performance creates harmony in the beholder."

Mrs. van Wel said, "I like the very graceful movements and the music. It makes you at ease in your mind. I liked Mulan ['Mulan Joins the Battle'] and the fans ['Welcoming Spring'] I find very peaceful and beautiful."

Made Sure To See Shen Yun Again

Ms. van Acvet, a teacher, had seen Shen Yun last year, and made sure to see it again. "The show is fantastic, I'm speechless! There are not really any words to explain. This was the second time that I've seen the show. Last time I saw the show in The Hague. Amazing! The costumes, the dance, it's really, really amazing!"

Ms. van Acvet, a teacher

She feels a special interest in Chinese culture. "Yes, and it has to do with Falun Dafa and Shen Yun, I also know about the persecution."

Ms. van Acvet thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the world-renowned show. "The orchestra was also amazing, the music was really divine. These special instruments from China, the erhu [traditional two-stringed Chinese instrument] was really, really stunning. Also the piano I liked very much. The show is amazing, really amazing. The gentleman who was singing, his voice was really something special. He was actually very far from the microphone, but you could hear his voice in the whole auditorium. The show was really, really amazing!"

Iranian Writer Sees the True Soul of the Chinese People Through Shen Yun

An Iranian writer brought his daughter to see the show on Saturday, April 18. Both father and child were moved by the piece "Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution." Mr. Bahar said, "For me, the story about the papa, mama and the child was the best."

Iranian Writer Mr. Bahar

The dance portrays a father who is steadfast in practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline banned in China. He is persecuted to death, yet the dance conveys a longstanding Chinese belief that good is ultimately rewarded.

Mr. Bahar said, "She [his daughter] also likes the dance regarding the family. She asked me the whole time, what is happening? Why did the papa go to heaven later?"

At the idea that the father went to heaven because he was a good man, Jalis, his daughter, exclaimed, "Yes!" and clapped her hands. Mr. Bahar said, "I'm really very, very happy. I will try to write an article about this later. I liked it very much. I'm from Iran and I'm a writer, and I like the history of China. I write about Persian history." He explained that he was imprisoned in Iran because of a book he wrote. He fled to the West and has lived in Amsterdam for years.

He said, "I guess the soul of China is like this. Very, very ...," Jalis interrupted, saying, "It was very very good!" Mr. Bahar continued, "Many people say the Chinese are very quiet, but there is a storm in their hearts, a storm of life."

Mr. Bahar had a parting wish, "If you have the opportunity, please say hello to the musicians for me. Nobody sees them, but they are supporting such a nice show. I just like to hear this music."

"It makes you remember the divine part of yourself"

Ms. Jansen, a director of a pharmacy, and Mr. Vat, an insurance broker for the disabled, gave their impressions.

Mr. Vat said, "I liked the show very, very much. It brings a lot of history from China. What I liked most was the grace and beauty of the dancers as they performed."

Ms. Jansen said, "Very lovely. I am half Chinese. It's touching to me. It's very difficult to say. It's more a feeling. The harmony inside, gracious inside and outside--it's very difficult in our culture to talk about it. It's energy, you can feel it--happiness."

Mr. Vat said, "In balance--it has to do with pureness from inside and also with old values and with things you don't talk about. [These values are] very deeply settled in the culture, and [the dancers] are performing those virtues. [The performance is] a lot about the beauty of the old values. It makes you remember the divine part of yourself."

Source: http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/15648/

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/15647/

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/15646/