Haeoreum Alliance cities stage choral opera celebrating Silla dynasty

The municipal arts ensembles of Ulsan, Gyeongju and Pohang — the three cities of the Haeoreum Alliance — will share a stage Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Ulsan Culture & Arts Center's main hall for a choral opera celebrating their common cultural heritage.

The joint performance is part of the Haeoreum Alliance cultural exchange project and marks the third stop of the tour, following performances in Gyeongju on Oct. 15 and in Pohang on Oct. 22.

"Millennium of Light, One Resonance" tells the history and culture of the Silla dynasty — which ruled for roughly a thousand years — through grand choral singing, orchestral music and dramatic staging. A cast of more than 200 brings to life pivotal moments in Silla history, including the kingdom's founding, its territorial expansion, the enthronement of a queen and the long march toward the unification of the Three Kingdoms.

Soprano Choi Jeong-won takes the role of Queen Seondeok, who steered Silla through crisis and yearned for unification. Tenor Kang Hyeon-su portrays King Jinheung, who drove territorial expansion and national prosperity, as well as the celebrated general Kim Yu-sin, who helped achieve the Three Kingdoms unification. Baritone Park Jung-min plays multiple roles: Bak Hyeokgeose, the founder of Silla; Bidam, the rebel who rose against Queen Seondeok; and King Muyeol, who laid the groundwork for unification.

Musical actors portraying Silla's Hwarang warrior corps also perform alongside the orchestra, vividly depicting the conflicts, reconciliations and shared longing for unity among the characters.

"This is a meaningful occasion to share the emotion of Silla's thousand-year history — the common past of the Haeoreum Alliance cities — through the grandeur of a choral opera stage," an official from the Ulsan Municipal Arts Ensemble said.

Tickets are 5,000 won for all seats. Members of the arts center receive a 30 percent discount, groups a 20 percent discount, and students and youth a 50 percent discount. Reservations and inquiries can be made through the Ulsan Culture & Arts Center website or by phone at 052-276-0372.