On the 31st of December, 2008 the HOFBURG Vienna invites you to the glamorous Kaiserball. Guests from all over the world celebrate a glittering conclusion and an elegant commencement of the year in the state apartments of the former imperial winter residence, a residence which was also at times of monarchy meeting place of nations. In accordance to this tradition we choose as motto for this year's ball ¡°the congress dances¡± on the occasion of the anniversary ¡°50 years Congress Center Hofburg¡±.
Details:
Regiments from different nations welcome you in the entrance area with the ceremony of the changing of the guard. Guests are presented with a cocktail to the strains of waltz music. Flanked by the Trabanten guards Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz Joseph pay their respects to the participants from the grand staircase. The state apartments, festively decorated with thousands of flowers and plants, are all open to you and invite you to stroll around. Acclaimed orchestras and bands provide dance music in numerous festival halls and members of the court lead you through the halls.
Vienna hosts the world: this symbolises the flag parade followed by a swinging waltz performance at 10.30 p.m. in the Festsaal.
The climax of the ball, the k.k. New Year Gala, is opened at 11.45 p.m. by the entry of the Imperial Court in the Festsaal. A volley of shots and the traditional ringing of the ¡°Pummerin¡± ¨C the bell from St. Stephan's Cathedral ¨C welcome the New Year. The ballet ensemble of the Kaiserball dances to the strains of the ¡°Blue Danube Waltz¡± and the imperial couple offers best wishes for New Year.
This will be followed by a gala performance that continues the ball theme ¡°the congress dances¡±: Singers and dancers from Austria 's most famous stages will treat guests to a musical tour of Austrian operettas and the world's congress destinations.
Also in the Kaisergarten and in the Zeremoniensaal guests see into the New Year and an ensemble will provide short music shows after midnight.
Dance enthusiasts are invited to the Festsaal at 1.15 a.m.: under professional coaching every guest may participate at the famous ¡°Fledermaus-quadrille¡± of Johann Strauss.
The Hotel InterContinental Wien, our gastronomic partner, has arranged an exclusive gala dinner and will also be offering a selection of cold delicacies at the traditional ball buffet for guests not attending the dinner .
EVERY GUEST HAS ACCESS TO ALL THE STATE ROOMS
AS WELL AS TO THE VARIOUS DANCE FLOORS, BARS AND BUFFETS
INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE BOOKED TICKET CATEGORY
ATTIRE:
Ladies: long evening gown, gentlemen: tuxedo or coat tails.
SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL:
Gala performance on Dec. 31, 2008 at 11.00 a.m.
VIENNA STATE OPERA AND VOLKSOPER:
Tickets for performances on Dec. 29, 30 and 31, 2008 and on Jan. 1, 2009.
The program will be announced in April.
VIENNESE WALTZ LESSON WITH ELMAYER DANCING SCHOOL
on Dec. 31, 2008 at 2.00 p.m. in the HOFBURG Vienna .
HOFBURG NEW YEAR'S CONCERTS
Strauss and Mozart concerts with the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra in the HOFBURG Vienna.
Concerts on Dec. 31, 2008 at 6.30 p.m.
on Jan. 1, 2009 at 11.00 a.m., at 4.00 p.m. and at 7.30 p.m.
About the Kaiserball (Imperial Ball)
The exciting and elegant beginning of the Grand Ball season, the ImperialBall, takes place on the 31st December in the Viennese Hofburg Palace. Visitors come from all over the world to spend New Years Eve in the former Winter Residence of the Austrian Emperors.
As an honoured guest of the Imperial Ball, Vienna - the City of Music and Entertainment - extends to you the splendor and elegance of old tradition and warm hospitality. Members of the Imperial Ball Committee accompany the guests to the State Apartments. Footmen in livery present a memento to the ladies. Waiters dressed in silk livery serve the Gala Banquet which takes place prior to the Grand Ball. The Rooms of the Palace are decorated with thousands of flowers and plants to create the most picturesque setting.
Well known European orchestras and bands invite you to dance in the Grand Festival Hall and various other splendid dance floors including that of the unique Emperor's Winter Garden. At midnight the ringing of the "Pummerin" - the bell from St. Stephen's Cathedral - can be heard.
The "Imperial Couple" wishes you a "Happy andd Prosperous New Year", the Deutschmeister Band marches through through the festival halls playing music and you can dance into the New Year to the beautiful sounds of "The Danube Waltz" . The Climax of the Ball is the fabulous Viennese Operetta Gala : which presents to you well-known performers from the Staatsoper and the Volksoper. They will sing melodies from famous Viennese Operettas.
The
History of the Kaiserball (Imperial Ball)
The
Vienna Balls are seen as the epitome of glamour and
decadence. There's lots of fun involved as well, so
you shouldn't hesitate to waltz yourself into the stunning
winter atmosphere of the city. A winter activity - stretching
from New Year's Eve to early March - the traditional
opener is the Kaiserball (Imperial Ball) at the Hofburg
Palace.
The ball season
is heralded at the Kaiserball with the historic changing
of the guard, performed by the Imperial Guard in the
palace's entrance hall. Cocktails are served to the
strains of the Hofball Orchestra and guests are greeted
by the likenesses of Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz
Josef. Ladies receive a small gift from footmen dressed
in livery.
The dancing, amidst
thousands of flowers and blooms, takes place through
the state rooms of the palace, and - at midnight - the
ringing of the Pummerin (the bell from St Stephan's
Cathedral) heralds the "Imperial Couple",
wishing one and all Happy New Year. This is followed
by the Viennese Operetta Gala, which takes place in
the Grand Festival Hall shortly after midnight and features
singers and dancers from the Vienna State Opera and
the Volksopera.
The pre-ball dinner
s is served in various halls by waiters in silk livery,
while guests not attending dinner can reserve places
for a splendid buffet throughout the evening. The dress
code is, as you would expect for such a glittering occasion,
ball gowns for the ladies and dress suits (or dark suits)
with bow tie for the gentlemen.
The Hofburg Congress Center & Redoutensäle
Vienna occupies a unique position among the congress
centers of the world. The Hofburg Palace complex was
built between the 13th and 20th century. The different
wings of the former imperial residence portray the architectural
periods of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque up to Classicism.
Until 1918 the
Hofburg Palace was the seat of the Habsburg dynasty.Here,
in the Cermonial Hall, during annual symbolic footwashing
ceremonies on Holy Thursday, Emperor Franz Joseph and
Empress Elisabeth washed the feet of 24 elderly
people; here, on March 5, 1810, Napoleon I asked for
the hand of Marie Luise.
The same hall where the Emperor
held his audiences, gala dinners and royal balls, or
where Empress Maria Theresia was baptized on May 15,
1717.
On the 31st of December, 2008 the HOFBURG Vienna invites you to the glamorous Kaiserball. Guests from all over the world celebrate a glittering conclusion and an elegant commencement of the year in the state apartments of the former imperial winter residence, a residence which was also at times of monarchy meeting place of nations. In accordance to this tradition we choose as motto for this year's ball ¡°the congress dances¡± on the occasion of the anniversary ¡°50 years Congress Center Hofburg¡±. 