Wang Haolan Holly_cn@163.com THE acclaimed French musical “Mozart, l’opéra rock” has returned! Currently on its latest China tour, which began in Langfang City, North China’s Hebei Province in April, the musical made its long-awaited comeback to Shenzhen after a five-year hiatus since its first local performance in 2019. It was staged at the Shenzhen Pingshan Theater from Aug. 15 to 17 and at the Shenzhen Poly Theater in Nanshan District from Friday to Sunday. In addition to the original cast, with Mikelangelo Loconte as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Laurent Ban as Antonio Salieri, this new China tour introduces fresh talent, including 23-year-old Yanis Richard, who serves as the alternate actor for Mozart. This year’s return of the show to the Chinese mainland is particularly significant as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, as well as the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, highlighting the musical’s cultural importance. Debuting in Paris in 2009, the production dramatizes the life of Mozart from age 17 until his death in 1791 at 35. It features a blend of original pop-rock compositions and classical music by Mozart and other composers, including Salieri. Please be noted that the on-stage photos were taken during the curtain call of the Aug. 30 performance. | 