THE 67TH VIENNA OPERA BALL
Feature |
The Vienna Opera Ball has always been the social highlight of the ball season. Around 5,000 ball guests and an audience of millions from all over the world, who can experience the ball via television, radio, digital platforms and print media, are once again looking forward to a glittering evening.
The artistic opening features a prominent cast and, in keeping with the anniversary, focuses on Johann Strauss: The Vienna State Opera Orchestra plays under the musical direction of Cornelius Meister, Nadine Sierra, Kammersänger Juan Diego Flórez, Maria Nazarova and Daniel Jenz sing - the program includes the Csárdás from Ritter Pásman, the waltz Frühlingsstimmen, "Bella enamorada" from El último rómantico (by Reveriano Soutullo & Juan Vert) and "Alle maskiert" from Eine Nacht in Venedig.
In a new creation by Martin Schläpfer, ballet director and chief choreographer of the Vienna State Ballet, the Vienna State Ballet dances with soloists Elena Bottaro, Natalia Butchko, Sonia Dvořák, Olga Esina, Alexandra Inculet, Hyo-Jung Kang, Sinthia Liz, Katharina Miffek, Ketevan Papava, Claudine Schoch; Timoor Afshar, Rashaen Arts, Jackson Carroll, Andrés Garcia Torres, Masayu Kimoto, Marcos Menha, Kristián Pokorný, Duccio Tariello, Arne Vandervelde, Géraud Wielick and four students from the Ballet Academy perform the "Kaiserwalzer". The fanfare will once again be performed by the Vienna State Opera's stage orchestra under the direction of Markus Henn.
Solidarity contribution
As in 2023 and 2024, this year's Opera Ball will once again send out a clear signal of social responsibility and solidarity: 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". "Österreich hilft Österreich" is an initiative supported by ORF and the leading aid organizations Caritas, Diakonie, Hilfswerk Österreich, Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz and Volkshilfe, which helps people in need in our country.
The Opera Ball theme by Franz Grabmayr: "Red rock face"
For the Vienna Opera Ball 2025, Jakob Grabmayr, son and administrator of the estate of the important Austrian artist Franz Grabmayr, has agreed to provide a work by his father, which will serve as a subject for posters and printed matter, but above all will be made available again for a charity campaign, the net proceeds of which will also go entirely to "Österreich hilft Österreich".
The work can now be viewed at Dorotheum. The online auction starts on January 17 at 12.00 noon and runs until March 5, 2025 at 8.00 pm. Bids can be placed at dorotheum.com/opernball; the starting price is €50,000.