Musical puts Chang'an at center stage

In line with the Tang Dynasty's diversity, the story includes a foreign character, Gelao, the head of an underground society.

The role stars French singer and actor Laurent Ban, beloved by many Chinese musical fans for his performance in Mozart, l'opera rock.

Although having no formal Chinese background, he speaks and sings in Mandarin in the musical, and even performs a song adopting the Qinqiang Opera style.

The idea of embracing a new challenge, to embody an original character in a language foreign to him, was one reason why he accepted this role, along with the production's historical depth.

"I love China for the richness of its history, like France. I enjoy diving into the golden age of Chinese history through the Tang Dynasty, and I also love that the story is set in Chang'an — the ancient name of Xi'an, a city I adore," Ban says.

To prepare for the role, he worked with the crew members, practicing intently to grasp the pronunciation, tone and rhythm of the Chinese language, honing his acting and singing skills, and fully realizing his interpretation of the character.

"Each scene requires extreme concentration and leaves me feeling drained as if I had run a marathon," he says.

Even now, he continues to work on his pronunciation and tones, feeling there is room for improvement. Still, the joy of bringing the story to life amid a supportive team was immense.

"I'm not only excited to play my character but also to watch my colleagues perform onstage. Everyone gives 1,000 percent — the dancers, singers, actors and everybody involved — it's truly exceptional," he adds.