Light and Sound ~ An Ancient Love, Part 1 of 9

In 2018, in recognition of the noble contributions of artists and the profound impact of art, Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) initiated April 3 as International Artist Day. This day celebrates artists and their artworks, which bring comfort to the heart, uplift the spirit, and share beauty, inspiration, and positive energy with people around the world.

To mark the 5th International Artist Day, members of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association (all vegans) organized a three-day celebration at the Taipei Music Center from April 1 to 3, 2022, in Taiwan, also known as Formosa. As part of the celebration, on April 2, the event featured “Light and Sound ~ An Ancient Love,” a captivating spiritual musical theatre production combining music, dance, and classical traditional theatre.

The production brought together acclaimed Taiwanese (Formosan) artists, including award-winning actor and director Soda Voyu, famed singers Chyi Yu (vegetarian), Chu-Chu Wu, Shelly Yu, and Yokuy Utaw, singer-songwriter Cemelesai Pasasauv (徹摩), actress Ina Tsai; traditional Japanese dance performer Yu-Tan Wang (vegetarian), and distinguished Jing-Kun Opera performers Sheng-Fang Guo, Yang-Chiang Chao, and Ya-Jiuan Yan, among other talented artists.

The event offered a beautiful array of artistic performances, taking audiences on a journey through love, beauty, dreams, and the human spirit, while showcasing the diverse and timeless power of art.

A highlight of the program was a selection of songs based on poems by Supreme Master Ching Hai, set to music by award-winning musician Blaire Ko and performed by talented artists. Through these poetic works, the performances conveyed the profound spiritual wisdom, beauty, and inspiration expressed through Her poetry.

The program also included musical and theatrical works inspired by beloved classics, including “Dream of the Red Chamber” by renowned Qing Dynasty novelist Cao Xueqin, the famous Ming Dynasty drama “Peony Pavilion in Nightmare” by celebrated playwright Tang Xianzu, and the traditional dance “Sun Wukong Wreaks Havoc in Heaven.” Drawing upon these timeless works, musical writer and director Soda Voyu brought their enduring themes of love and the soul’s journey beyond the fleeting world to life on stage.

Heute blicken wir zurück und beginnen mit dem künstlerischen Weg der Höchsten Meisterin Ching Hai. Wir haben speziell Soda Voyu, Gewinner des Golden Bell Award und vielseitiger Theaterkünstler, eingeladen, heute hier als Regisseur und Drehbuchautor zu fungieren. Ausgehend vom orientalischen Hintergrund, in Kombination mit der traditionellen Peking-Kunqu-Oper und modernen Techniken, unter Einbeziehung von Multimedia und ergänzt durch die visuell bewegenden Gemälde der Höchsten Meisterin Ching Hai, entfaltet sich die Kraft der unendlichen Möglichkeiten des neoklassischen Multimedia-Musiktheaters. Der 5. Internationale Tag der Künstler setzt seine Innovationen fort, bringt künstlerische Vielfalt zum Vorschein, lässt die Welt uns sehen und lässt uns dankbar sein für diesen Tag voller Liebe und Herrlichkeit. Dieses Mal haben wir besonders talentierte Künstler aus allen Ecken von Taiwan eingeladen – fast 300 Künstler, darunter Dichter, Schriftsteller, Maler, Schauspieler, Schauspielerinnen, Sänger, Musiker, Komponisten, Film- und Theaterregisseure, Choreografen, Entertainer sowie Talente aus allen Bereichen, die unser Leben mit ihren Talenten bereichern. Begrüßen wir sie nun mit einem großen Applaus.