Successful premiere of Vienna’s latest New Year’s Eve highlight
More than 2,500 guests attended the premiere of LE GRAND BAL. Themed La Nuit de l’Amour, New Year’s Eve at the HOFBURG Vienna featured an inspirational artistic programme in 2012. The first bookings have already been taken for 31 December 2013!
© Andreas TischlerHOFBURG Vienna Managing Director Renate Danler opened the dazzling premiere of LE GRAND BAL, marking the official start of the new ball season at the Hofburg. The ball’s unique setting, beautifully choreographed entertainment featuring first class artists and an exquisite gala dinner draw more than 2,500 people to the former imperial residence on New Year’s Eve. “I am delighted that so many visitors from Austria and more than 40 nations around the globe celebrated the turn of the year with us at LE GRAND BAL. The success of the evening confirms that we have got the positioning for the new ball exactly right,” Mrs Danler noted.
Artistic highlights and culinary delights
Devised by acclaimed stage and costume designer Christof Cremer, the evening’s entertainment – all linked to the theme of “La Nuit de l’Amour” – revolved around a magical fairytale starring a pair of young lovers in a world sparkling with lustre and glamour. The first highlight came in the shape of the formal opening ceremony. Vienna Volksoper soprano Barbara Payha performed a stirring rendition of the “Je Veux Vivre” aria from Charles Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette”. Next came the debutantes from the world-famous Elmayer dance school with Emile Waldteufel’s fan polonaise “Amour et Printemps”, and principal soloists Olga Esina and Roman Lazik from the Vienna State Ballet along with various other members of the company treated visitors to Jacques Offenbach’s Ballet des “Flocons de Neige”. “Choreographing the ballet for LE GRAND BAL of the HOFBURG Vienna was a special experience for me,” commented Boris Nebyla.
At midnight guests were left spellbound by spectacular fireworks, the sounds of the Pummerin (boomer) bell at St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Blue Danube waltz. This was followed by soloists from the Vienna State Opera and Volksoper performing various pieces under the direction of Herbert Fischerauer. Alexandra Reinprecht, Isabell Seebacher and Kip Wilborn led the way with renditions of arias from “La Traviata”, “The Land of Smiles” and “Die Fledermaus”. “The unique New Year’s Eve atmosphere in the Festsaal was truly inspirational, helping the artists to perform at their very best,” said Alexandra Reinprecht. Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer, head of the Elmayer dance school, led the public quadrille later on which proved to be a highly entertaining and enjoyable highlight of the evening.
Ballgoers were treated to a gourmet New Year’s Eve dinner at LE GRAND BAL this year. A midnight buffet laden with delicacies provided sustenance in the opening hours of the New Year, while the Demel Café was another popular haunt for bon viveurs. Meanwhile, at the chill out lounge, guests sipped Happy New Year cocktails and danced to hot rhythms into the small hours.
Rendezvous for VIP guests
Numerous leading figures from the worlds of business, politics, science and culture rang in the new year at the HOFBURG Vienna. The presence of countless ambassadors and leading diplomats reflected the international make-up of LE GRAND BAL of the HOFBURG Vienna – as did the attendance of a Brazilian parliamentarian, a ballroom dance champion from the USA and numerous international television crews.
LE GRAND BAL also brought together a number of big name ball organisers including Gery Keszler (Life Ball), Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer (Elmayer-Kränzchen) and Yvonne Rueff (Dancer Against Cancer) as well as the organisers of the Officers’ Ball, Lawyers’ Ball, TU Ball and Russian Ball who danced their way into the small hours, enjoying a grand New Year’s Eve at the Hofburg.
The international fashion scene was represented by guests such as couture designer Irina Vitjaz, whose creations are worn by top stars such as Anna Netrebko. HOFBURG Vienna Managing Director Renate Danler wore an original Vitjaz dress on the night. “It really wasn’t easy for me to pick a dress from the countless designs on offer,” she admitted. “The golden couture dress complimented the glamorous atmosphere at the Hofburg Vienna and LE GRAND BAL,” she concluded.
Preview of 2013
“The successful premier of the LE GRAND BAL of the HOFBURG Vienna will spur us on to continue the good work in 2013,” Mrs Danler revealed. The new highlight on 31 December gives guests the chance to get the New Year off to an especially elegant and stylish start. Countless bookings were taken for 2013 at the 2012 event. The team is already working on the entertainment programme for 2013, which will play out in the heart of Vienna with great views of the city’s firework displays.
