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Khan! The Rock Opera Rock opera, the tradition that has thrived since its early days of the Who's Tommy and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar, now embraces another likely figure: Genghis Khan. The show blends throat singing with heavy metal.

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Khan! The Rock Opera

Heard on All Things Considered

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Anna Panoka

Khan! The Rock Opera

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Music from Genghis Khan

Theme to a Shaman's Dance

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Rock opera, the tradition that has thrived since its early days of the Who's Tommy and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar, now embraces another likely figure: Genghis Khan.

The creators of the Genghis Khan rock opera (from left to right): Ganzorig, guitarist for the Black Wolves rock band; Black Wolves lead guitarist Otgonbayar; and rock opera composer Taraa. Anna Panoka hide caption

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Anna Panoka

The show blends multi-tone throat singing with heavy metal, as young Mongolian musicians and dancers stage the first rock opera to celebrate the life of Khan. It is timed to commemorate Mongolia's 800th birthday.

In the thirteenth century, Khan united the nomadic tribes of Mongolia and began to create what became an empire stretching from China to Eastern Europe.

The opera premieres in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar on May 8.