Iconic ballet 'La Bayadere' and other performances to see in Seoul

“La Bayadere” is an iconic 19th-century ballet created by French choreographer Marius Petipa (1818-1910), who is considered one of the world’s most influential ballet masters.

LA BAYADERESeoul Arts Center, Opera Theater

Universal Ballet Company is presenting “La Bayadere,” an iconic 19th-century ballet created by French choreographer Marius Petipa (1818-1910), at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul from Sept. 27 to 29. [UNIVERSAL BALLET COMPANY]

Sept. 27 – 29: “La Bayadere” is an iconic 19th-century ballet created by French choreographer Marius Petipa (1818-1910), who is considered one of the world’s most influential ballet masters. This classical ballet masterpiece is so grand it is difficult to stage frequently. Among Petipa’s many great works, “La Bayadere” is the largest in scale in terms of dancers, as well as the staging.

The Universal Ballet Company is bringing it back this year on stage. The difficult, emotionally demanding role of Nikiya will be performed by Kang Mi-sun, Hong Hyang-gi, Elizaveta Cheprasova, Lee You-rim and Suh Hae-won. The warrior Solor will be played by Konstantin Novoselov, Rhee Hyon-jun, Lee Dong-tak, Kang Min-woo and Jeon Min-cheol.

Tickets range from 20,000 won ($15) to 140,000 won.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5

g.o.d CONCERT KSPO DomeSept. 27 – 29:Considered part of the first generation of boy bands in K-pop, g.o.d, which debuted in 1999, is holding another concert this year. Since its success of reuniting through a concert in 2022, the boy band has been holding a concert every year. The 2022 concert, titled “2022 god Concert ‘On’,” was the group’s first concert as a complete group in four years. It sold out shortly after the tickets went on sale.

g.o.d consists of members Park Joon-hyung, Yoon Kye-sang, Danny Ahn, Son Ho-young and Kim Tae-woo.

The boy band has released seven regular albums and has numerous hit songs including “To Mother,” (1999) "Road” (2001), “One Candle” (2000), among many others.

Tickets range from 132,000 won to 176,000 won.

The concert starts at 8 p.m. on Friday, at 6 p.m. on Saturday and at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Olympic Park Station, line No. 5 and 9, exit 3 or 4

CHICAGOD-Cube Arts Center

Broadway’s hit musical “Chicago” is being staged at the D-Cube Arts Center in western Seoul. Musical actor Jeong Sun-ah, center, plays Velma Kelly. [YONHAP]

Through Sept. 29: Broadway’s hit musical “Chicago” is now one of the most sought-after musicals for Koreans as well. Last year, Koreans got to see the Broadway production of the show here and this year, the Korean production is making a return.

The musical is based on the 1926 play of the same name by journalist Maurine Dallas Watkins about the actual criminals and crimes she reported on in Chicago.

The musical revolves around Roxie Hart, an ambitious chorus girl, who murders her lover.

Actors Choi Jung-won, Yoon Gong-joo and Jeong Sun-ah will alternate Velma Kelly, while IVY, Tiffany Young and Min Kyung-ah play Roxie Hart. Actors Park Gun-hyung and Choi Jae-rim will alternate Billy Flynn.

Tickets range from 80,000 won to 160,000 won.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekends. There are no shows on Mondays.

Sindorim Station, lines No. 1 and 2, exit 1 or 5

INMO YANG & BERLINER BAROCK SOLISTENLotte Concert HallSept. 25: Violinist Yang In-mo, who became the first Korean to win the first place prize at the prestigious XII International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in Helsinki, Finland, in 2022, will be accompanying Berliner Barock Solisten, or the Berlin Baroque Soloists, at Lotte Concert Hall in southern Seoul.

Founded in 1995 by prominent members of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Berliner Barock Solisten attempts to create a unique approach to the musical works of the 1600s and 1700s.

The program with Yang includes Bach’s “Violin concerto in E Major, BWV 1042,” as well as Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.”

Tickets range from 30,000 won to 200,000 won.

The concert begins at 8 p.m.

Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 1 or 2

CHUNG MYUNG-WHUN AND ORCHESTRA TEATRO LA FENICESeoul Arts Center, Concert Hall

Maestro Chung Myung-whun [MATTHIAS CREUTZIGER]

Oct. 5:Maestro Chung Myung-whun will be standing on the podium to conduct for the Orchestra Teatro La Fenice next month. The historical Italian orchestra, which is the resident orchestra of Theatro La Fenice in Italy, has performed some of the most important opera pieces written by 19th century composers like Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, Vincenzo Bellini and Giuseppe Verdi. The orchestra will be visiting Korea for the first time for next month’s concert. Maestro Chung has worked with the orchestra multiple times. He conducted the New Year’s concert for the orchestra for three years, from 2018 to 2020.

The program includes Verdi’s “La Forza Del Destino – Overture,” Mozart’s “Piano Concert No. 23, A Major, K. 488,” and Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Pianist Kim Sun-wook will accompany the orchestra.

Tickets range from 70,000 won to 280,000 won.

The concert begins at 5 p.m.

Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5 GRAND MINT FESTIVAL 2024Olympic Park

Oct. 26 – Nov. 3:The hot temperature will hopefully cool down and it will be time to enjoy outdoor music festivals. The annual Grand Mint Festival is back again for four days. This year's lineup of artists include Daybreak, BOL4 and Ha Dong-qn on Oct. 26, MeloMance, N.Flying and Redoor on Oct. 27, Kwon Jin-ah, Glen Check, Kim Feel and So Soo Bin on Nov. 2, and Kyuhyun, Hynn, Band Nah and Hong Isaac on Nov. 3.

The Grand Mint Festival is known for featuring up-and-coming new artists alongside well-known artists in its lineup.

Doors will open from noon on each day.

One-day ticket costs 121,000 won.

Olympic Park Station, line No. 5 and 9, exit 3 or 4

KINKY BOOTSBlue Square, Shinhan Card Hall Through Nov. 10:Charlie Price takes over the family business from his father and begins to run a shoe factory, but he soon realizes he is on the verge of bankruptcy. In a bid to find a breakthrough, the businessman unwillingly teams up with a drag performer named Lola to produce a line of high-heeled boots for other drag queens called "kinky boots."

Through the relationship between the unlikely pair, the musical spotlights how people from different backgrounds can come to understand each other.

This hit musical is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and the Korean production is joining in to mark the event. The musical features actors Lee Seok-hoon from the K-pop trio SG Wannabe, Kim Sung-kyu from the K-pop boy band Infinite and musical actors Shin Jae-bum and Kim Ho-young as Charlie. As for the role of Lola, four musical actors — Choi Jae-lim, Park Eun-tae, Kang Hong-seok and Seo Kyung-soo — will alternate.

The musical starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends and national holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Ticket prices range from 80,000 won to 170,000 won.

Hangangjin Station, line No. 6, exit 2 or 3

*Most tickets are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]