Marco Polo, the original Chinese opera created by Guangzhou Opera House based on the story of the famous Italian explorer, will start its global tour from Italy on Sep 22, according to an announcement made in Milan on Sep 4.

The play, which praises the Silk Road spirit, presents the epic adventure of Marco Polo who traveled along the ancient Silk Road to reach China in the 13th century, with a focus on the trade and cultural exchanges between the East and West.

"Guangzhou Opera House, as a prestigious opera house in China, had started to create Marco Polo in October 2016 to implement the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as promote cultural communication between China and Italy," said Zhu Xiaoyi, director of the Guangzhou publicity department.

Zhu added that the three-act Chinese opera, which lasts for 165 minutes, is a mix of western and Chinese culture. It has a total of about 200 cast members and the main cast comes from across the world, spanning different cultural backgrounds.

"Being the first original Chinese opera starring artists from home and abroad, the opera has faced problems before the show was staged, yet we have gained a lot of support and encouragement from the Guangzhou government and citizens," said Chen Rui, deputy general manager of Guangzhou Opera House.

Marco Polo will be staged at Dal Verme Theater in Milan from Sep 22 to 24 and in Carlo Felice Theater in Genoa from Sep 29 to Oct 1.

Giuseppe Talamo, the Italian tenor who stars as Marco Polo in the opera, showcases some segments of the opera. [Photo/Xinhua]