In celebration of Christmas, Gracias Choir has embarked on its “Christmas Cantata” tour across Korea from Nov. 15 to Dec. 22.

The choir will perform in 18 cities, including Ansan, Gyeonggi Province; Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province; Gwangju; Gangneung, Gangwon Province; and Mokpo, South Jeolla Province. The tour ends in Seoul.

 

The 120-minute performance is separated into three acts. The first act takes the format of an opera, depicting the birth of Jesus. The second follows a musical format, portraying the warm love of a family through a story inspired by O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi.” The third features a movement from Hendel’s oratorio “Messiah.”

“Christmas Cantata” premiered in 2000, shortly after the choir was founded the same year. It has since been performed more than 750 times, attracting a total of around 1.5 million people.

The choir finished its Northern America tour in September, performing in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Detroit and more.

In 2014, the choir won the grand prize at the International Choir Competition Riva del Garda in Italy and the first prize at the Montreux Choral Festival in Switzerland. It also won first place for mixed chorus and a prize for romantic choral work at the 2015 Marktoberdorf International Choir Competition in Germany.

Tickets range from 40,000 won to 120,000 won and are available via Interpark Ticket. All proceeds will go toward charity performances for youths around the world.

By Im Eun-byel (silverstar@heraldcorp.com)