A First Time Event: Not Fidgety During a Performance

BREGENZ, Austria—The Shen Yun Performing Arts company is capturing the hearts of its audiences everywhere it stops on its global tour. It has happened at the Bregenz Festspielhaus as well.

Atesch Bayat, owner of one of the largest carpet warehouses in Austria and his wife Ingrid were no exception. They enjoyed the show very much and it brought peace to Mr. Bayat's mind.

"I'm fidgety and this is the first time ever that I have sat through a show peacefully and quiet. At one time, I even started to count the audience members. But, in this show, I could concentrate on the show, which was wonderful."

The performers brought stories from ancient China, handed down from folklore through the centuries, as well as stories happening in modern China.

What kept going through Mr. Bayat's mind were the scenes that depict the suffering of a group of people who practice Falun Gong.

"The scenes in this show made people very sad because China tramples on human rights. It is sad that China bans ideological freedom. This inhuman behavior, happening in the 20th century, is heartbreaking," he said.

"I like the philosophical background of Falun Gong. It is beautiful. Now, I will read the books, so I don't remain in the dark."

Reporting by Alexander M. Hamrle and Heide B. Malhotra.

The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org