http://bostonherald.com/entertainment/arts_culture/view.bg?articleid=1066025&srvc=home&position=also

‘Chinese New Year’ is a spectacular
By Bob Young
Saturday, January 12, 2008

The audience at the “Chinese New Year Spectacular” at the Opera House didn’t have to wait long to discover there was more to this cultural showcase than advertised.

A few lines into soprano Min Jiang’s operatic ballad “I Sing for You,” the subtitles on a giant screen began laying out the not-so-subtle subtext.

Pointed phrases damned the Communist Chinese government’s attacks on “our glorious culture” and its repressive tactics against Falun Gong, the self-improvement-through-spirituality movement whose philosophy permeated the show.

It was clear that the “Spectacular” was an earnest effort to offer up what its Falun Gong-affiliated presenter, New Tang Dynasty Television, argues is an important part of Chinese heritage and culture. So earnest, in fact, that the Chinese government recently put pressure on California and New York politicians to not recognize the event, currently on its fourth annual world tour.

The show’s 150-person troupe did a good job of presenting its case. The two-and-a-half-hour program featured dancers and singers in a dazzling array of costumes, and a crack orchestra that seamlessly fused Chinese and Western classical instrumentation.

Together, they put a high gloss on segments ranging from 12th century military adventures and Mongolian bowl dancing to fan dancing and the power of thelotus blossom.

Bright background scenes underscored the idealized tone with rainbows arching above flowered meadows and sun rays kissing snowy mountain ranges.

Two peppy hosts followed their scripts precisely, explaining between musical numbers what the audience would see and hear, and what it meant. Some of these bits were as obvious as the hammer and sickle on the backs of black-clad police thugs who beat Falun Gong members in one dance number. Explanations were welcome in other numbers, particularly those where the plot revolved around divine visitors, fate and deities.

While a number of performers stood out – lead dancers Wendy Su and Leon Chao among them – and the show’s choreography was competent enough, it likely took a true Falun Gong disciple to declare this Chinese New Year show spectacular. Mixing politics, religion and art is tricky business, and best received when the art transcends the agenda.

http://bostonherald.com/entertainment/arts_culture/view.bg?articleid=1066025&srvc=home&position=also

‘Chinese New Year’ is a spectacular
By Bob Young
Saturday, January 12, 2008

The audience at the “Chinese New Year Spectacular” at the Opera House didn’t have to wait long to discover there was more to this cultural showcase than advertised.

A few lines into soprano Min Jiang’s operatic ballad “I Sing for You,” the subtitles on a giant screen began laying out the not-so-subtle subtext.

Pointed phrases damned the Communist Chinese government’s attacks on “our glorious culture” and its repressive tactics against Falun Gong, the self-improvement-through-spirituality movement whose philosophy permeated the show.

It was clear that the “Spectacular” was an earnest effort to offer up what its Falun Gong-affiliated presenter, New Tang Dynasty Television, argues is an important part of Chinese heritage and culture. So earnest, in fact, that the Chinese government recently put pressure on California and New York politicians to not recognize the event, currently on its fourth annual world tour.

The show’s 150-person troupe did a good job of presenting its case. The two-and-a-half-hour program featured dancers and singers in a dazzling array of costumes, and a crack orchestra that seamlessly fused Chinese and Western classical instrumentation.

Together, they put a high gloss on segments ranging from 12th century military adventures and Mongolian bowl dancing to fan dancing and the power of thelotus blossom.

Bright background scenes underscored the idealized tone with rainbows arching above flowered meadows and sun rays kissing snowy mountain ranges.

Two peppy hosts followed their scripts precisely, explaining between musical numbers what the audience would see and hear, and what it meant. Some of these bits were as obvious as the hammer and sickle on the backs of black-clad police thugs who beat Falun Gong members in one dance number. Explanations were welcome in other numbers, particularly those where the plot revolved around divine visitors, fate and deities.

While a number of performers stood out – lead dancers Wendy Su and Leon Chao among them – and the show’s choreography was competent enough, it likely took a true Falun Gong disciple to declare this Chinese New Year show spectacular. Mixing politics, religion and art is tricky business, and best received when the art transcends the agenda.

As soon as they said that I could fly if I practiced enough, I was out of there. I’ve also heard of the “don’t take medicine and all your ailments will disappear.”

What a bunch of crackpots. It’s no different than voodoo magic where belief overrides science.

As soon as they said that I could fly if I practiced enough, I was out of there. I’ve also heard of the “don’t take medicine and all your ailments will disappear.”

What a bunch of crackpots. It’s no different than voodoo magic where belief overrides science.