ICYMI, the Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music kicked off their 25th anniversary line-up earlier this month—and if you did miss it, the good news is, the rest of the festival actually doesn’t continue until early September. In addition to some truly iconic opera and ballet productions (“Swan Lake,” anyone?), the festival organizers have actually made a point to feature an extensive range of creative performances, including French acrobatic hip-hop and an all-star group of female magicians.

As a very small taste of what’s to come, the splashy pre-opening night was the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra’s Thailand debut. Under the leadership of Chief Conductor Michael Sanderling, the orchestra dazzled audiences with two of Beethoven’s most popular (if not his most popular) pieces: “Violin Concerto in D major,” “Op. 61,” and “Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67.” The performance also featured a solo by world-renowned Grammy award-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich, who played on a 300-year-old violin named “Ledux, ex Szeryng.” Fun fact: the violin was loaned to Hadelich in 2020, before which it hadn’t been publicly played since 1988. The incredibly successful pre-opening night performance was a sold-out performance.

One of the best parts of the whole festival? Tickets are available at a range of prices, so you don’t have to shell out half your month’s rent for one night at the opera. While we admit that prices are more expensive than, say, grabbing a beer at your usual bar, this is actually a steal given the quality of the performances and the iconic names that are attached to each event—plus how many chances are you going to get to see a rendition of “West Side Story” that’s been assembled by an A-list creative team?

Without further ado, here’s the complete line-up for this year:

Zubin Mehta & the Symphony Orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (September 2)
Ticket prices: B10,000, B7,000, B5,000, B4,000, B2,000

Photo: Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music

Whether you’re an orchestra aficionado or if this is your first taste, there’s no better way to spend the night than with a performance led by legendary conductor Zubin Mehta. This performance will be the grand opening of the festival's silver jubilee celebration, as well as the legendary conductor’s farewell performance to Thailand. Under Mehta’s conduct, the Symphony Orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino—where he holds the title of “Honorary Director” for life—will play two of Tchaikovsky’s pieces: “Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 (Fatum),” and “Symphony No. 6 in B minor” Op. 74 (Pathétique).”

Aida (September 9)
Ticket prices: B6,000, B5,000, B4,000, B3,000, B1,800

Photo: Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music

Set in ancient Egypt and accompanied by an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” tells the tragic love story between the titular enslaved Ethiopian princess and an Egyptian commander who has to choose between his love for her and his loyalty to his king. For the Festival, Artistic Director Dmitry Bertman has assembled a rousing version of “Aida,” which will be performed with a full orchestra and chorus by the Helikon Opera, one of Russia’s largest and most famous opera theaters, as well as alongside a multimedia set to create a modern ambience. The performance will be subtitled in both English and Thai.

Carmen (September 15)
Ticket prices: B3,000, B2,500, B2,200, B2,000, B1,500

Photo: Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music

A flamenco performance inspired by George Bizet's famous 19th-century opera, Carmen, will be performed in a totally new interpretation by the ambassador of Flamenco Dance, the Granada Flamenco Ballet. “Carmen” tells the story of a soldier who falls in love with a gypsy smuggler named Carmen and spends the story trying to pursue her attention. Utilizing a mixture of sultry flamenco moves, live music with singers, and lighting and stage details, the Granada Flamenco Ballet’s version of “Carmen” comes together in a number of unexpected and remarkable manners.

Dance for Me (September 16)
Ticket prices: B3,000, B2,500, B2,200, B2,000, B1,500

Photo: Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music

As Granada Flamenco Ballet’s latest show, “Dance for Me” is meant to take you on “a journey through the Andalusian performing arts” with its mix of Moorish, Spanish, and gypsy dance traditions. The performance starts with a choreography inspired by Granada’s own poet- playwright Federica García Lorca, and ends with a fin de fiesta that sees each dancer onstage fully improvising their final act. The whole show is set to an invigorating chorus by live singers and musicians.

The Roots (September 23)
Ticket prices: B3,000, B2,500, B2,200, B2,000, B1,500

Photo: Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music

Renowned French hip-hop dancer Kader Attou—for his company Cie Accrorap—has put together “The Roots,” an 11-man acrobatic performance that serves as “an homage to the power of platonic male friendships and collaborations,” and that combines jaw-dropping hip-hop and contemporary dance moves with innovative visual arts. Think locking, popping, breakdancing—but also boxing, burlesque, and miming (yes, really).

LAC—Swan Lake (September 30; October 1)
Ticket prices: B4,500, B4,000, B3,500, B2,700, B1,800

Photo: Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music

Ah, “Swan Lake”—what more is there to say, really? Naturally, the Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music wouldn’t be complete without at least one performance of arguably the world’s most famous ballet, and this time, Bangkok will be treated to a dazzling night of mouse kings and princes and princesses with performances from Monaco’s national ballet company, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo.

West Side Story (October 5-8)
Ticket prices: B5,000, B4,000, B3,500, B2,700, B1,800

Photo: Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music

If you can’t go to Broadway, why not bring Broadway to Bangkok? Sondheim and Bernstein’s iconic “Romeo and Juliet”-inspired tale featuring star-crossed lovers Maria and Tony will take center stage for four nights. In fact, Bangkok will be one of the first cities to see this new production of “West Side Story” which has been directed by Emmy-award winning director Lonny Price and will feature the musical’s original choreography by Jerome Robbins.

Stuttgart Ballet gala performance (October 12)
Ticket prices: B5,000, B4,000, B3,500, B2,700, B1,800

Photo: Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music

Ballet lovers won’t want to miss this dazzling compilation of performances choreographed to some of the world’s most famous stories. We don’t want to spoil the whole line-up, but the performance list includes “Don Quixote,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “Blake Works 1.” Accompanied by the full Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, the night will feature multiple award-winning dancers from one of the world’s leading ballet companies, the Stuttgart Ballet.

The Magnificent Six (October 14)
Ticket prices: B4,000, B3,500, B3,000, B2,500, B1,800

Photo: Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music

Not really into ballet or opera? How about some magic (with a nice sprinkling of girl power to boot)? Six world-renowned female magicians and illusionists from across the globe have banded together to form “The Magnificent Six,” a magic show choreographed by Tony Hassini, CEO and president of the New York-based International Magicians Society. Made more special by the fact that Bangkok will be their world premiere, you won’t want to miss this dazzling night of deception and trickery that will have you questioning fact from fiction.

Anna Karenina (October 21-22)
Ticket prices: B4,500, B4,000, B3,500, B2,700, B1,800

Photo: Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music

There are few more impressive notes to end a festival on than with a rendition of “Anna Karenina,” specifically as a ballet performance by the famous Eifman Ballet. The performance will be choreographed by multi-award winning choreographer Boris Eifman himself, and attendees will be treated to a captivating production set to Tchaikovsky’s score.

Tickets for all performances are already available for purchase at all ThaiTicketMajor outlets as well as online. (Psst got a Bangkok Bank credit card? Until July 15, you can purchase early bird tickets for 20% off their original price!)