The German Karneval festival is coming to Seoul on March 4 offering pomp and pageantry without having to fly to Germany.

Organized by the Goethe-Institut and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the costume ball will include lively speeches, a religious ceremony and awards for the best costumes as well as a mini-concert by an ABBA revival band and a new interpretation of Swan Lake performed by an all-male cast.

“Swan Lake is chosen as the first German Carnival in Seoul, because it is the most renowned classical ballet repertoire,” said Konrad Adenauer Foundation Korea Representative Colin Durkop.

“Though we have changed the storyline, the image of the Swan is still seen on stage,” he added.

There will also be German carnival songs performed by guest artists from Germany and Latin American dances performed by Swiss Embassy Cultural and Commercial Counsellor Raoul Imbach.

More information can be had by visiting www.1-skv.kr (Korean, German), the Germany Embassy’s site at www.seoul.diplo.de or call Lee Hye-kyung at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation at (02) 790-4774.