The Chinese New Year Splendor is an evening of performance never to forget!

Having seen the first Winter Divine Performing Arts show at the Beacon it was with great pleasure to attend their equally spectacular show at Radio City on January 31.

While I would have preferred the audience lights to be dimmed a bit more and the announcers' microphones turned down a bit, I was mesmerized immediately with the incredibly felt performances from all the artists.

Having been raised with a great father one of the consummate artists of violin the world has known (Oscar Shumsky 1917-2000, Shumskymusic.com) I was always told and understood that feeling above all is most important. Striving for cleanliness and exactness of performance is fine but the end result must be heartfelt and meaningful.

The spectacular array of talent from beautiful choreographed dance works, including Lady of the Moon inspired by a Chinese legend, to Forsythia In Spring , portraying the flower welcoming. Spring lightness and grace could not have been more aptly titled. Dancers danced suspended in thin air, as if on clouds!

Sets with changing and imaginative backgrounds superimposed dancing figures and beautiful scenery, colored by China's profound past.

I loved especially the lead dance work of Michelle Ren, who is an artist the minute she walks on stage. Her grace is an understatement in elegance, simplicity and beauty, and her presence divine splendor.

I don't have room here for all the great contributors. The music, a melange of east and west, quickly got to the underlying meaning behind each drama to be depicted. Junyi Tan, Xuan Tong, Yuan Gao, Yu Deng and Ningfang Chen must be given enormous credit for their original and special music.

And I would be leaving out a great part of the show. The elegant and artistic Erhu player: Xiaochun Qi.

I know most of the classical string players performing today and I dare say most of them could take lessons in the essence of expression. The little girl can express more feelings from her simple little instrument than years of conservatory and PR hype, and this includes most of the big name performers on today's concert circuits. She really feels the music—the goose bumps on my arm proved it. I know Dad would have loved this kind of playing and feeling.

I will be back and bring my friends too!

Eric Shumsky