The Viennese Opera Ball in New York is an annual charity gala held annually under the auspices of the US-Austrian Chamber of Commerce.
Dignitaries, Diplomats and Debutantes “Open” the international Ball, long regarded as one of New York’s “greatest annual events,” garnering worldwide media coverage for over five decades. There is nothing formulaic about the event; with four generations of guests, the Ball reflects the universal appeal of Austria’s cultural and culinary treasures. The gala evening features Opera, Classical Music and Ballroom Dancing including, of course, Waltzing. One popular highlight is the Midnight Quadrille, conducted by a Viennese choreographer. Following an 8 p.m. champagne reception, the Ball runs from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., and includes a four-course dinner service. The “Tanz Bar” (post-Ball party) follows from 1:00 to 4:00 a.m. and includes a full buffet supper with the Viennese Opera Ball's Signature Goulash Soup, as well as multiple venues featuring: a Jazz Band, Dance Band, DJ, Vienna Coffee House with Viennese pastries, and Casino.
The Ball opens with the Grand March of Dignitaries and Diplomats, Escorted by Cadets from the US Military Academy at West Point. The ceremonial tone of the Ball Opening continues with the Presentation and Posting of the Flags by a West Point Color Guard. The Program continues with the Presentation of Debutante

Debutante

A débutante is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal "début" presentation. It should not be confused with a Debs...

s (ages 16 to 25) and their dance Escorts (ages 18 - 30), along with their West Point Cadet Escorts. A choreographed waltz

Waltz

The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...

 routine by young ballroom dance

Ballroom dance

Ballroom dance refers to a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television....

 couples (ages 18-30) is followed by a call for "Alles Walzer!" (Everyone Dance!) and guests join the dancers for the first official waltz of the Ball. Peter Duchin

Peter Duchin

-Life and career:Duchin was born in New York City, the son of pianist and band leader Eddy Duchin. His mother was Marjorie Oelrichs, a Newport, Rhode Island and New York City socialite who died unexpectedly when he was just five days old. He was raised by close family friends, statesman W...

 and his Orchestra play continuous dance music throughout the Ball, stopping only for Program highlights or performances by the featured Opera singers.

History

The Viennese Opera Ball in New York takes its inspiration from the famous Vienna Opera Ball

Vienna Opera Ball

The Vienna Opera Ball is an annual Austrian society event which takes place in the building of the Vienna State Opera on the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday. Together with the New Year Concert, the Opera Ball is one of the highlights of the Viennese carnival season...

 in Austria

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

, but it is an American 501(c)(3) non-profit association, and independent from the Vienna Opera Ball.

The ball normally takes place in late January or early February at the The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan

Manhattan

Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...

. It is considered one of the few 'white-tie' Balls still in existence, i.e. the gentlemen come attired in white tie

White tie

White tie is the most formal evening dress code in Western fashion. It is worn to ceremonial occasions such as state dinners in some countries, as well as to very formal balls and evening weddings...

 and tailcoat

Tailcoat

A tailcoat is a coat with the front of the skirt cut away, so as to leave only the rear section of the skirt, known as the tails. The historical reason coats were cut this way was to make it easier for the wearer to ride a horse, but over the years tailcoats of varying types have evolved into forms...

s with decorations and the ladies wear long floor-length ball gown

Ball gown

A ball gown is worn for ballroom dancing and only the most formal social occasions according to rules of etiquette. It is traditionally a full-skirted gown reaching at least to the ankles, made of luxurious fabric, delicately and exotically trimmed. Most versions are cut off the shoulder with...

s and opera gloves

Evening gloves

Ladies' evening gloves or opera gloves are a type of formal glove that reaches beyond the elbow.Ladies' gloves for formal and semi-formal wear come in three lengths for women: wrist, elbow, and opera or full-length .The most expensive full-length gloves are custom-made of kid leather,...

.

Performances

Debutantes and their male partners (called Escorts) rehearse for one week prior to the ball, and they are generally selected by recommendation from Committee members each year. The choreographed Waltzers rehearse for three months prior to the ball, and they are selected from dance auditions held by the Choreographer each year. Opera singers come from the Metropolitan Opera

Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...

, and ballet dancers are flown over from Vienna

Vienna

Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...

. The Debutante procession is typically led by either the reigning Miss USA

Miss USA

The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...

 or the reigning Miss Universe

Miss Universe

Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....

.

Annual Themes

Each year there is a different theme, most recently: 2005 -- 'Golden Jubilee' (in honor of the 50th anniversary of both the Ball and Free Austria); 2006 -- 'Mozart,' as the night of the ball fell on what would have been Mozart's 250th birthday; 2007 -- "Cinderella", complete with a ballet following the story of Cinderella

Cinderella

"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...

 and her night at "the ball" with Prince Charming

Prince Charming

Prince Charming is a stock character who appears in a number of fairy tales. He is the prince who comes to rescue of the damsel in distress, and stereotypically, must engage in a quest to liberate her from an evil spell...

; 2008 -- "Fairy Doll", inspired by composer Josef Bayer

Josef Bayer

Josef Bayer was an Austrian composer and the director of the Austrian Court Ballet from 1883 until his death. He was born and died in Vienna...

's children's tale; and, 2009 -- "Masked Night at the Opera", inspired by Strauss's "Prince Orlofsky's masked ball at his "villa" in "Die Fledermaus".