Season package tickets go on sale Tuesday

LG Arts Center has unveiled a 2025 season lineup that celebrates the center's 25th anniversary.

The lineup includes iconic dance works by legendary contemporary artists such as Matthew Bourne and Pina Bausch, collaborations between Korea’s leading pianists and world-renowned orchestras, and new theater productions that build on the success of last year’s Korean adaptation of "The Cherry Orchard."

"Swan Lake" by Matthew Bourne (Photo by Johan Persson)

Matthew Bourne, Royal Ballet gala and Pina Bausch

Matthew Bourne’s gender-flipping ballet, "Swan Lake," which created a sensation by replacing the delicate female swans with muscular male swans, will return to Seoul from June 18 to 29, six years after its last performance here. The production has drawn 100,000 spectators across five runs at the LG Arts Center.

The Royal Ballet, the internationally renowned classical ballet company from Britain, will perform in Korea for the first time in 20 years with a curated gala, July 4-6. The performances will feature over 10 of the Royal Ballet's signature works. Eight of the company's principal dancers and Jun Joon-hyuk, who was promoted to first soloist after seven years with the company, are set to perform in Seoul.

"Nelken" (Photo by Oliver Look)

The German dance company Tanztheater Wuppertal will bring "Nelken" (Carnations), an iconic piece by legendary modern dance choreographer Pina Bausch, a pioneer of neo-expressionist dance known as Tanztheater, back to Korea for the first time in 25 years (Nov. 6–9). The performance features thousands of carnations and delivers a profound message about human communication.

The Gothenburg Opera Dance Company from Sweden will present Alexander Ekman's "Hammer," Nov. 14-16. This visually striking performance features over 30 dancers in a breathtaking display of synchronized choreography, dramatic lighting and bold, flamboyant style.

Pianist Lim Yunchan (left) and pianist/conductor Kim Sun-wook (Photo by Kim Shin-joong, Marco Borggreve)
Pianist Lim Yunchan (left) and pianist/conductor Kim Sun-wook (Photo by Kim Shin-joong, Marco Borggreve)

Leading pianists and world-class orchestras

Pianist and conductor Kim Sun-wook and piano sensation Lim Yunchan are set to perform with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and the Paris Orchestra, respectively.

Kim, who also serves as the artistic director of the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, will take the stage on April 5 to perform Beethoven’s piano concertos with the Grammy and Gramophone-winning Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Kim will both conduct and perform, presenting Beethoven Piano Concertos No. 3 in C minor, No. 4 in G major and No. 5 in E-flat major, famously known as the "Emperor."

Lim will perform with the Paris Orchestra on June 13, under the baton of Klaus Makela, one of today’s most acclaimed young conductors.

The program will feature Ravel’s suite for solo piano "Le Tombeau de Couperin," Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor and Mussorgsky’s "Pictures at an Exhibition" (arranged by Ravel).

Pansori and two Ibsens

Celebrated pansori singer and actor Lee Ja-ram will present her first new work in five years, "Snow, Snow, Snow," April 8-13. Known for her unique creations such as "Sacheon-ga" and "The Old Man and the Sea," Lee has redefined the art of pansori with innovative narratives. Inspired by Russian writer Tolstoy’s short story "Master and Man," her newest creation reimagines the story of a merchant and his servant lost in a snowstorm, leading to a confrontation with their inner selves.

Two of Henrik Ibsen's classics will be adapted as Korean productions -- "Hedda Gabler," May 7-June 8, and "Ghosts," Oct. 16-26. Actress Lee Young-ae is in talks for the lead role of Hedda Gabler, while the Yangson Project will lead the production of "Ghosts." The project plans to produce one Ibsen work each year as part of an Ibsen trilogy.

Tickets for the season packages will go on sale at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, while individual tickets will be available starting at 11 a.m. on Feb. 4. The Paris Orchestra concert with Lim will not be available as part of the package.