After the New Year’s Concert on January 1, the next major musical event in our city is just around the corner. The Vienna Opera Ball will take place on February 12 this year and is the highlight of the ball season. Austrian and international celebrities come together here and dance the night away. Mortals, on the other hand, watch the spectacle on TV. This year, there are some new additions to the usual program that you can look forward to.
A long tradition with a dark chapter
Photo: David Vives/Unsplash
The Vienna Opera Ball has its origins in the 19th century. Inspired by the Paris Opera Balls of the 18th century, the staff of the Court Opera held their first dance events after the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The first opera ball in the true sense of the word took place in 1877 , but was called the Court Opera Soirée. The conductors were Johann Strauss and his brother Eduard. The latter got the audience dancing with his polka, and thus the soirée became a ball.
It then took place two to three times a year and was soon renamed Redoute, which later changed to Opernredoute. The first Vienna Opera Ball, which was also called that, was organized in 1935 by the Austrofascist regime. It served as a means of propaganda and was intended to paint a positive image to the outside world. Since then, it has always taken place on the last Thursday of Carnival at the Vienna State Opera.
After the Anschluss, the operetta “Der Opernball” was remade, with the National Socialists moving the setting from Paris to Vienna. They wanted to maintain the illusion that the Opera Ball in its current form had its roots in the previous century. During the war and the occupation of Austria, the Vienna Opera Ball was canceled. It was not until 1956 that it was held again, and since then it has been an annual tradition.
The Vienna Opera Ball schedule
Photo: Preillumination SeTh/Unsplash
Two evenings before the actual ball, the State Opera suspends its program so that the setup work can be carried out. The seating is dismantled and a dance floor is laid, forming a level with the stage. Guests can then dance exuberantly on a total of 850 square meters. On Wednesday evening, the participants rehearse the program one last time before the grand opening on Thursday. Since 2009, the choreography for this has been taken on by a different dance school from a different federal state each year. This year, the Santner dance school from Upper Austria is once again responsible.
This year, for the first time, you can also look forward to a few musical numbers at the opening. This is a new feature at the Vienna Opera Ball. Among other things, you will hear “Maria” and “Tonight” from West Side Story. Waltz No. 2 and Verdi’s Brindisi are also part of the grand opening, in which the orchestra, ballet, and singers give their all for you. The debutante couples also make their grand entrance here. The women all wear tiaras that have been designed by Swarovski since 1956.
The first dance is to the Blue Danube Waltz. The opening begins at 10 p.m. and lasts approximately 50 minutes. Afterwards, guests can dance to 16 genres on five dance floors spread over nine floors. At 12 a.m., 2 a.m., and 4 a.m., there will be a quadrille before the Vienna Opera Ball finally ends at 5 a.m.
Who attends the Vienna Opera Ball?
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The Opera Ball is a real celebrity magnet. Iris Law, model and daughter of actor Jude Law, is this year’s Swarovski star guest. Other models in attendance will include Adriana Karembeu and Nadine Mirada, who has already walked the catwalk for Victoria’s Secret. Fran Drescher is also expected to attend, accompanied by Peter Marc Jacobson, as are The Boss Hoss, Simone Thomalla, Sharon Stone, Oliver Pocher, and Sandy Meyer-Wölden. And who knows, maybe Pedro Pascal will surprise us with a visit after recently dining at a Viennese restaurant.
In addition to invited guests and celebrities, you also have the opportunity to attend the event. Tickets for the Vienna Opera Ball are in high demand and sell out quickly, but since February 2, it has been possible to purchase returned tickets. These cost €410, of which €35 is donated to charity. This gives you access to all areas of the ball, but not to the opening. You can only watch this on a screen, unless you pay an additional €100 to €250 for spectator tickets. If you want a table, you’ll have to fork out a whopping €640; the boxes start at a hefty €19,000.
If you are only interested in the opening, you can also come to the dress rehearsal . Here , a standing ticket costs €40. However, the cheapest option is to watch the Vienna Opera Ball on TV. ORF 2 and 3Sat will broadcast the event live for you on Thursday, February 12, starting at 8:15 p.m. The big celebrity show will kick things off before the actual opening at 10 p.m. If you don’t have a TV, you can also watch the event via livestream on ORF ON.