(Clearwisdom.net) Well-known South Korean bass vocalist Xin Guikun attended the Chinese Spectacular on February 24, 2008. While walking out of the Grand Peace Palace of Kyung Hee University, he said excitedly, "The show made me feel I had left the secular world for a moment. I don't know if I will have another opportunity to see such an outstanding performance in this lifetime."
 Well-known South Korean bass vocalist Xin Guikun |
During the interview, Xin Guikun was teary-eyed with joy. He said seeing the show was culture shock. "Today I was excited to experience this revival of Asian culture, which we cannot find in Korea. I found that the Asian culture is rooted in China."
Xin Guikun offered his praise of the show. "The performances by the Divine Performing Arts are truly outstanding, very elegant and intricate. The different performances all have the most appropriate music to go with them, and all the performances are so natural, just like water flowing."
Xin Guikun said, "When I was watching "Nymphs of the Sea," I was so intoxicated that I forgot my existence. The dancers' movements and the harmonious music were just perfect, the movements of the dancers were just like real waves. How could the director create such a wonderful scene! The imagination is incredible."
"The dance 'Ladies of the Manchu Court' transported me back to the Qing Dynasty. The show has gone further back than the middle ages, it took me back to ancient times, just like a beautiful dream. The scene in the dance the 'Lady of the Moon', with the lady flying to the moon was also very moving. In short, I can only say that the whole production is magical, and the stage of the Divine Performing Arts is a masterpiece."
"The music is pure and it purifies one's heart"
On stage, Xin Guikun mostly sings western pieces. He said that most operas depict secular stories of love and death, revenge and hatred, "But the music I heard today is so pure, and it can make people healthier and purer."
"The coordination between the sopranos and the pianist was simply perfect. The contralto's timbre is extremely abundant and very peaceful. It left a very deep impression on me. I felt as if I had gone back to ancient times."
When talking about the voice of tenor Hong Ming, he said that although he was a vocalist himself, when he heard Hong Ming's singing, he cold not help yelling out, "Encore!" He said, "He has a very wide vocal range, and sings low pitch, middle pitch and high pitch with ease. He also has an incredible ability to maintain the intensity. The real value in a tenor lies in his timbre. Mr. Hong's timbre is excellent! Fabulous! Mr. Hong also has excellent gentlemanly manner and is very confident. Every aspect was perfect."
"I feel blessed to have seen the show"
Xin Guikun said, "Today's show is truly amazing, and it expressed pure human nature. I don't know how long I will live, and maybe I only have this one chance in my life to see such a show. Although I was invited to come, I felt it was divine beings that led me here. While I was watching the show, my first thought was: Too bad I did not bring my children. In the future, when I come to see the show, I will definitely bring my children."
Xin Guikun was surprised himself that he had so much to say to the reporter. He said this was because the show was truly moving.
He regretted that he missed the opportunity to see the shows on the previous two days. "I did not expect the show to be so wonderful. The Chinese Embassy tried to interfere and obstruct this event, but all three shows had a full house. This is truly amazing."
Xin Guikun is a well-known bass vocalist and a former music professor in KonKuk University.
He is also a member of the Korean Vocalists Association, a representative of the Korean Academy of Vocal Music, and has run concerts in Carnegie Hall in the US and Korean Arts Palace. He is currently a university professor.
