News1.net - 55th Viennese Opera Ball, February 5th, 2010

NEWS1 www.NEWS1.net Business • Economic • Events • Reference PHOTO ARCHIVES OVER 300,000 PHOTOGRAPHS 24/7 Photo - Video News service Worlds largest on-line photographic archive covering New York City. 55th Viennese Opera Ball Walldorf Astoria Hotel, Manhattan News1.net New York February 5, 2010 By Frank X. Didik The 55th Viennese Opera Ball, was absolutely stunning and attracted leading leading New York and international socialites. It took place at the spectacular ball room of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and was choreographed akin more to a top Broadway musical, rather than a dance. The event started with the "March of the Dignitaries" followed by the introduction of debutantes. Both Miss USA as well as Miss Universe attended and were escorted by a special (and very lucky), West Point cadet honor guard. The Metropolitan Opera supplied an amazing opera and ballet performance which arrived on a horse drawn sleigh. Truly a sight to behold. The Viennese Opera Ball in New York is one of the main charity balls and has been a major social event since 1955. This year precedes from the Viennese Opera Ball is being used to benefit the Haitian earthquake victims. The Viennese Opera Ball in New York, has become synonymous with glamor, elegance and prestige. The original Viennese Opera Ball can be traced to the late 18th century. Curiously, until the early 1800's, according to the New York Viennese Opera Ball committee, "the waltz was considered too erotic and exciting to include in events where propriety was in order. But when the great composer and orchestra director Johann Strauss was named Dance Music Director of the Imperial Court in 1835, the waltz received formal approval as an official dance in Vienna. Johann Strauss went on to compose over 150 waltzes and did concert tours with his orchestra, introducing Viennese music to Europe. His son, Johann Strauss, Jr., became known as the “Waltz King,” as he wrote over 400 waltzes, including “Tales of the Vienna Woods,” “Songs of Spring,” and “Emperor Waltz."” This years Ball is held under the auspices of the U.S.-Austrian Chamber of Commerce. Many notables from Austria, the United States as well as from around the world make it a point of attending the Viennese Opera Ball. SOURCE: News1.net compiled sources and by Frank X. Didik http://www.news1.net/firstlook/2010vienneseoperaball/ To enlarge, click on any picture. Press the return key on your browser to return to this menu West Point honor guard The debutantes had practiced only for 4 hours the day before and yet, their performance and symmetry was excellent. The 55th annual Viennese Opera Ball at the Waldorf. This ball is reminiscent of the great balls NYC had 120 years ago. Today, the Viennese Opera Ball has emerged as the main social ball in NYC. This is the "March of the Dignitaries", which included political and social notables. The full orchestra was excellent. The announcer said "please rise for the National Anthem" and then they started to play a few stanzas of the Austrian National Anthem and after about 10 seconds, started the Star Spangled Banner. The ballet performance was phenomenal. They arrived by a real horse drawn sleigh. Miss USA and her West Point Escort. They seemed to be having a lot of fun together. The Metropolitan Opera supplied an amazing duet performance. Miss Universe outside of the Viennese Opera Ball. She is from Venezuela. This is the famous actor, Geoffrey Holder and his wife of 53 years. Among his many credits, he played the bald headed Voodo man with the deeeeep voice in the James Bond Film, live and let die. He is a true gentleman. Kristen Dolton, who is Miss USA I am sure that you will agree that both Miss Universe and Miss USA have the hots for me. Notice how, out of shyness, they completely avoid eye contact with me... Miss USA and her West Point escort A Japanese couple from Megro, Tokyo, Japan Miss Universe and West Point escort Miss Universe on the bottom left with Miss USA in the middle. Copyright © 2010 News1.net  All Rights Reserved.