Crystals and Tiaras: Inside the Annual Vienna Opera Ball
Last Thursday night at the Vienna Opera Ball, over 160 debutantes and their white-tied escorts waltzed with dazzling synchronicity across the ground floor of the Vienna State Opera. Each girl wore a white dress of her own choosing: some in minimalist ivory silken dresses, others in proper ball gowns. On the tops of their heads—and secured tightly so that no spin left them de-throned? A Swarovski tiara. It’s part of the event’s tradition, which is as Viennese as a slice of Sachertorte.
At 6:30 p.m., guests including Priscilla Presley (in town for the event) and Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen gathered at The Sacher Hotel, Vienna’s grande dame hotel. Upon entering the lobby, they were greeted by a larger-than-life Original Sacher-Torte, along with its owner (it’s been family-run for centuries) Alexandra Winkler. At the hotel, a formal, five-course dinner was served with all the attention to detail one would expect, as guests fueled up for a long night of dancing.
A quick walk took guests—men were instructed to wear white tie, while women wore formal, floor-length dresses—over to the city’s opera house, located just across the street. Inside, a grand display of florals in various shades of pink (from Schiaparelli-pink roses to cotton-candy-colored sweat peas) was swagged along the marble balustraded staircase, as guests promptly found their seats in the opera house and waited for the show.
It opened with a national anthem and a procession of the debutantes gliding to fill the floor of the theater, forming a perimeter around the stage. Once in position, they stood stoic while enjoying performances by opera stars Elina Garanca (mezzo-soprano) and Piotr Beczala (tenor); a charming dance from the children in the school of the Wiener Staatsballett; and then, a performance from the company’s dancers themselves. An orchestra positioned in the back provided the music, and around half an hour later, it was time to come out. The debutantes waltzed and spun their white dresses in romantic ripples; the aerial view enjoyed by the attendees in their seats and boxes was downright dazzling.
Their performance lasted no more than 15 minutes and after that, it was time for everyone to join in—the entire theater (the ground floor stage included) opened up for every attendee to dance. Scattered throughout the sprawling opera house’s five floors were various dance parties catering to any and all musical preferences, some of which continued until 5 a.m.
The event, which dates back to 1814, is a meld of all the elements that form the bedrock of Austrian culture—the waltz (the Viennese Johann Strauss I and his son, Johann Strauss II, were responsible for the enduring worldwide popularity of the dance), opera (Mozart was, of course, Austrian), and decorum (it’s a culture that loves a bit of pomp and circumstance). But, unlike many of Europe’s other deb balls, the Vienna Opera Ball, or the Wiener Opernball, is welcome to all—barring an age restriction and having “very good left-hand waltz skills” as outlined by the organizers. After applying, young ladies (and gentlemen) from all over the world can get the chance to take part in the ceremony—tiaras and all, no titles needed.
“It s the dream of all the girls, at the end of the day,” says Giovanna Battaglia Engelbert. “Who wouldn’t want to experience this?” As creative director of Swarovski, Battaglia Engelbert also designed the tiara—her second year in a row. Her creation is inspired by the line’s Mesmera Collection with crystals cut in various shapes and sizes like a gorgeous array of icicles. “For me, to be able to be part of this historical institution is incredible,” she continues. “It’s very nice to see the endurance of this tradition.”
In 1956, Swarovski first began crystalizing the tiaras worn by the debutantes. The company, which was founded by Daniel Swarovski in Wattens, Austria, in 1895, had long mastered the production and formulas for dazzling and multi-faceted cut crystals. For decades, it had been a supplier to couturiers in Paris like Charles Frederick Worth to embellish their gowns, but at the turn of the century, Swarovski lent its magic to one of its country’s most historic events. By 2006, Swarovski began designing the tiaras themselves, which change each year. For a time, it called upon designers to dream up a design, and the starry list of past Opernball tiaras has included Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce and Gabbana, and Versace.
For Swarovski’s CEO Alexis Nasard, the historic brand’s involvement in the event is all about equilibrium. “You want to drive the heritage and the classical credentials of such a luxury brand, but also the unapologetic modernity needed to be part of the zeitgeist,” he tells Vogue. “Most of what we do in Austria is part of the first, naturally—because that’s the provenance of the brand.” As for the second part? Well, let us draw your attention to the recent Skims x Swarovski collab.
At the event, the tiaras (which aren’t for sale to the public) didn’t leave the heads of the debutantes all night, as they transitioned from waltzing to un-choreographed shimmies on the dance floor. After their big night out, the debs get to keep the tiaras; they end up as keepsakes and family heirlooms, cherished for years to come.
Gisela Schober/Getty Images1/16Inside the Sacher Hotel’s pre-gala dinner.
Photo: German Larkin2/16Alexis Nasard
