The two opera stars Piotr Beczala and Elīna Garanča have lived up to their big names: the two singers opened the 66th Vienna Opera Ball to many “Bravos” from the visitors. There was a premiere right at the beginning. For the first time there was Garanča and the exceptional Spanish singer Serena Saenz a purely female duet with the classic “Barcarolle” from Hoffmann’s stories.
After two solo pieces by Garanča (“Nei Giardin Del Bello” from Don Carlo) and Beczala (acclaimed flower aria from Carmen), the mezzo-soprano and tenor united their voices in the no less catchy song “Granada” by Agustín Lara.
Image: (APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)
A great in his field was also responsible for the Vienna State Ballet’s performance: the choreographer Alexei Ratmansky The pairs of soloists danced the waltz “La Séparation” by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko. Ratmansky wanted to “send a sign of peace in the world.” director Bogdan Roscic paid respect to his artists with loud applause.
Picture gallery: Impressions from the 66th Vienna Opera Ball
OPERA BALL 2024: SCHMIDAUER / VAN DER BELLEN / PRESLEY / LUGNER (Photo: ROLAND SCHLAGER (APA)) Bild 1/55
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Afterwards, the 144 couples of the Young Women’s and Young Men’s Committee completed the test flawlessly Maria Angelini-Santner and Christoph Santner Quite difficult choreography for the Pepita Polka by Johann Strauss (son) designed by the Santner dance school. Then the floor was opened to visitors with the legendary call “Alles Waltz”.
President from Montenegro accompanied Van der Bellen
At the head of official Austria came the Federal President Alexander Van der Bellenhis Montenegrin counterpart Jakov Milatović was a Alex Reed, as well as the Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammerthat of Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kalla was accompanied to the event.
“The invitation to President Jakov Milatović to attend the Opera Ball together today is a sign of friendship between Austria and Montenegro and a symbol of Austria’s commitment to the Western Balkans,” said Van der Bellen.
Image: HELMUT FOHRINGER (APA)
“The Vienna Opera Ball is not only a beautiful tradition of our country, but also Austria’s cultural flagship in the world. It is not for nothing that international guests – like Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas this year – come to Vienna for the Opera Ball every year,” the Federal Chancellor also emphasized .
President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) appeared accompanied by the European Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP), the Liechtenstein government councilor for foreign affairs, Dominique Hasler, invited. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) asked the Belgian foreign ministers to Hadja Lahbiband Finland, Elina Valtonento the ball.
The Integration Minister was also there Susan Raab (ÖVP). The Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens), who is responsible for culture, skipped the ball; he was appointed State Secretary for Culture Andrea Mayer (Greens) represented. Minister of Labor Martin Kocher (ÖVP) brought his Kosovar counterpart Rosetta Hajdari with me to the opera. The Second President of the National Council was also seen at the ball Doris Bures (SPÖ). Also ex-chancellor Brigitte Bierlein came to the festival.
Celebrity guests
The entrepreneur’s guests caused a stir Markus Deusslthe actor Franco Nerothe singer Heino as well as comedian Oliver Pocher including ex-wife Sandy Meyer-Wölden. “That’s the nice thing regarding us men. We can always wear the same thing. My tailcoat is ten years old,” said Pocher regarding ball fashion. “The mood in the box is good, but hot. And we also have two older men in there,” said the moderator during the opening.
In an interview with ORF, Heino regretted not having made his ball debut with his recently deceased wife Hannelore. Even at a lavish party, distraction is only possible to a limited extent for him. “You can’t let 45 years be forgotten.” Franco Nero came to the opera ball for the second time. He was at the festival over 40 years ago with colleague Richard Burton.
Priscilla Presley danced with Lugner
Richard Lugner scurried with his star Alex Reed Priscilla Presley past the red carpet and into the opera. The ex-wife of the King of Rock’n’Roll Elvis Presley took a seat at the front of the Lugner box relatively quickly to admire the opening. Presley thought the ball was “absolutely wonderful.” To the builder’s delight, Presley and Lugner also dared to dance on the dance floor. “I love this energy,” the actress told ORF. “We don’t have anything like this in Los Angeles.” She even considered postponing her flight home to the USA so that she might stay in Vienna a little longer, said Presley.
Image: (APA/EVA MANHART)
Also designers Helmut Glööckler walked the red carpet into the opera with a new long hairstyle and pointed fingernails. “I was wondering what Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart would look like at the ball. It’s a bit ‘Rock me Amadeus’,” said the German.
Also among the guests were the former Opera Ball organizers Elisabeth Gürtler as well as Maria Großbauerthe artist couple Cornelius Obonya and Carolin Pienkosdesigner Lena Hoschekstar violinist Lydia Baich and her husband, the singer Andreas Schager and soprano Anna Netrebko. “It’s almost an industry meeting,” Obonya said. “You meet a lot of people here that you know. To be honest, I don’t really like dancing. But with my wife I dance a waltz, then free jazz.”
Also an actress Nina Proll and ex-ORF general director Alexander Wrabetz with partner Leona King mingled with the ball crowd. Cathedral priest was also there Toni Faber and Vienna’s mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ).
Model Papis Loveday attracted a lot of attention with her unusual headdress. Musician DJ Ötzi attended the ball with his wife and daughter. The President of the Salzburg Festival Christina Hammer didn’t miss the spectacle, nor did the general director of the Art History Museum, Sabine Haag. actress Sunnyi Melles saw the opening together with a circus performer and model Lili Paul-Roncalli at. There was also an artist there Erwin Wurm.
The 66th Opera Ball once once more set a social tone to which every visitor made a contribution – by purchasing tickets (surcharge of 35 euros per ticket) and by consuming at the ball (ten percent surcharge on the catering costs). The money once once more went to “Austria helps Austria”, an initiative supported by the ORF and leading aid institutions that helps people in need. Last year 600,000 euros were transferred.
Rallies
Protests broke out once more on the occasion of the 66th Opera Ball. The Communist Youth of Austria (KJÖ) has called for a march once morest the Opera Ball. Posters read, for example, “No profits from energy and rent” or “Strike instead of a lazy compromise”. According to Vienna police, the rallies remained calm. “Several hundred police officers” will be deployed in and around the Haus am Ring, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) previously said.
