Han stars in Verdi's opera Aida. CHINA DAILY

On Wednesday, Han will have a solo concert in Beijing, reviewing his career and performing some of his favorite and challenging arias, such as E Lucevan Le Stelle from Puccini's Tosca, Vogliatemi bene from Puccini's Madame Butterfly and Eri tu che macchiavi from Verdi's A Masked Ball, as well as songs adapted from pop music, which he has never performed before. Pianist Yue Peng, who is a senior piano coach with the China NCPA Orchestra and China NCPA Chorus, will accompany him. Baritone Yang Xiaoyong and soprano Li Xiuying will be Han's guest performers.

One of the memorable roles that Han played was Prince Calaf, which was his first opera experience. In 2009, he won the top prize at a major international opera competition held in Verona, Italy, and as a result, Han got the opportunity to play the role of Prince Calaf in Turandot.

"I was 24 years old then and I was very excited that I could play the classic opera in Italy. That prize gave me great confidence as a tenor and so far, I have performed in about 30 operas. But the first experience of performing onstage as a tenor was still memorable," Han says. Last year, Han performed the role again in the version produced by the NCPA, which was directed by Chen Xinyi.

Han stars in Rickshaw Boy. CHINA DAILY 

In 2014, Han played the role of Xiangzi in the Chinese opera, Rickshaw Boy, which was produced by the NCPA, working with composer Guo Wenjing. Since then, Han has performed in opera productions by the NCPA.

Now, living in Shanghai and singing with the Shanghai Opera House, Han just wrapped up his tour in the opera Tosca, a coproduction by the NCPA, Shanghai Opera House, and Shaanxi Grand Theatre.

He is doing rehearsals for the Chinese opera, Janger, produced by the Inner Mongolia Art Theatre and adapted from the Mongolian epic Janger, which will premiere this November.

"One of the greatest satisfactions as a tenor that I have is when I walk off the stage and I know that I have given my all. When I look back, it still feels like a dream for me, from an athlete to a tenor," says Han.

Pianist Yue Peng (right), who is a senior piano coach with the China NCPA Orchestra and China NCPA Chorus, will perform with Han in Beijing on Wednesday. CHINA DAILY