(Clearwisdom.net) Parisians continue to enthusiastically respond to the Divine Performing Arts (DPA) 2009 World Tour, as it once again took the stage at the Palais des Congres de Paris on Sunday. Among the appreciative audience was Touve Ratovondrahety, pianist for the Paris Opera House.

Mr. Touve Ratonvondrahety, pianist at the French Opera

"First and foremost I was astonished and surprised. I learned a lot this evening. I am a musician, a pianist for the Ballet Opera House of Paris. I am therefore in touch with dance every day. I saw a sacred difference here in how to go about things," said Mr. Ratovondrahety.

A highly accomplished musician, Mr. Ratovondrahety not only performs for the Opera House, he is a tenured organist for an organ that is considered a historic monument in a Paris church. He has also given solo piano concertos and is regularly commissioned to compose original music for haute couture runway shows, as well as orchestras and video games.

With such highly attuned musical sensitivities, Mr. Ratovondrahety could well appreciate the music that is such a powerful part of the show.

"The most beautiful moment I experienced this evening, where I was deeply moved, was with the performance number, the piano duo, with the traditional instrument. I do not recall the name, forgive me, I do not have the words. It was as though my breath was caught off guard, I dared not even breathe. It was very, very beautiful..." Mr. Ratovondrahety was referring to the erhu piece, "Hope." The erhu is a two-stringed Chinese instrument known for its melancholic and hauntingly beautiful sound.

"In relation to the music overall, what I first noticed is that the music itself was formless. I was astonished. There is a rhythm, however we do not hear what is most prevalent here in the West, for example, boum, boum, boum [the beat]. There was nothing of that sort here. I reflected upon this and I told myself, 'There is no violence here whatsoever, even though there are scenes of war, even though there are scenes of torture in the dance performances. There is no violence whatsoever.' I was very surprised by this," Mr. Ratovondrahety said.

"Because I am from Madagascar," Mr. Ratovondrahety explained, "I come from a culture that is somewhat different. Here in the West, we strive for what it is that we are missing--which is to find a link with how we use movement, music, in relation to spirituality. Thus, I discovered this evening, all the gestures, all the musical notes, everything had a meaning. We are invited to discover spirituality."

Taste and Refinement

Mr. Richet, a composer, had many comments to make after seeing the show for the first time.

"I thought that it was really good!" adding that he thought the show had been done with great "taste and refinement."

Mr. Richet, who also teaches piano and percussion, thought the scenes were "magnificent," and the overall presentation was "Well done and pleasing."

Of course being a musician himself, it was the music that he said he enjoyed most, particularly the erhu performance - "Hope."

"Also the scene with the Chinese fans," he added. "It was magnificent. There were many beautiful things." The performance that Mr. Richet was referring to, "Welcoming Spring," evokes a sense of delight in the viewer, as the dancers' exuberant and quick movements welcome the blessing of Spring after the long cold of Winter!

"It Totally Takes One to Another World!"

Mr. Venot from the Tourism Ministry was also amongst the audience. Having previously seen the show, he made sure to see it this year, "Always a wonderful show from the point of view of colors, sound. The experience through the music, through the culture and the images. And it's really a great pleasure to come to this show... Always well organized."

Reflecting further, Mr. Venot added, "What is original to a French person, for example, in the opening, were the drums, it's something very original, that right away creates an ambiance."

"And in another part of the show, there were the Tibetan dances, it had an overall impact of what could happen with Tibet. There was a message I would say, that the people from there have a culture, a particular culture and even if you are showing Chinese culture [overall], you have also shown that there is a particular culture in that region."

"It totally takes one to another world!" he concluded.

Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/12918/
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/12942/
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/12897/