Everything you need to know about this year’s Vienna Opera Ball
Once a year, the Vienna Staatsoper turns into the most beautiful and elegant ballroom in the world. This year, on February 27, the 67th Vienna Opera Ball will be attended by celebrities from the world of culture, business, politics, science and sport. Millions of viewers from all over the world will have an opportunity to follow this most important carnival event via digital platforms and Austrian television ORF 2 and 3sat.
The opera stars of the evening include Nadine Sierra – American soprano well-known to the Polish audience, and Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez. The Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera will be conducted by Cornelius Meister. The program features the hits of Johann Strauss (son) whose bicentenary of birth is celebrated this year.
Soloists of the Vienna State Ballet and four students of the Ballet Academy will perform “Kaiserwalzer” – “Imperial Waltz” by Johann Strauss (son). The only Polish accent of the evening is an excerpt from Fryderyk Chopin’s Polonaise in A major. It will be performed by the Vienna State Opera Ballroom Orchestra, with László Gyükér on the podium.
The most awaited moment is the performance of young debutantes who will present dance routines including polonaise, polka and waltz. According to tradition, they will wear white dresses, gloves and identical tiaras. The tiaras have been created by Swarovski since 1956. For the first time, Swarovsky designers have proposed a matching crystal pin, intended to symbolize the unity of all 144 couples who will present themselves on February 27.
Managing the organization of the ball is the responsibility of the marketing department of the Vienna State Opera, whose employees coordinate the production of the event, its planning, casting and staging. The reconstruction of the auditorium into a ballroom will take 30 hours, and the dismantling will take another day. The floral decorations on the boxes, balconies, tables and walls will once again be provided by Viennese florists from Doll’s Blumen. This year’s inspiration will be Dutch still lifes, which will allow you to immerse yourself in the diverse, colorful and lush world of plants.
The first Vienna Opera Ball took place on January 26, 1935. Since then, it has traditionally been held on the last Thursday of the Carnival. The purchase of tickets (surcharge of €35 per ticket) and consumption at the ball (10% surcharge on catering sales) will once again support “Österreich hilft Österreich” campaign (Austria helps Austria). Admission costs EUR 395, but if you want to sit in the box and watch what is happening on the dance floor, you have to pay EUR 15,000. The most expensive ticket at EUR 25,500 is for the main box. Evening attire is required during the evening: white tie and tails for men and long dresses for women.