Imperial Ball Dec. 31, 2008

New Year's Eve Gala 2008 in the Cellebration hall of Vienna Town Hall

Palais Ferstel New Year’s Eve Gala 2008

"Majestic Imperator" The Imperial Dinnertrain

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. The dress code is evening dress: white tie and tails for men; floor-length ballgowns for women.

Each year, almost overnight, the auditorium of the Vienna State Opera is turned into a large ballroom. On the eve of the event, the rows of seats are removed from the stalls, and a new floor, level with the stage, is built.

Come and experience the famous Vienna Opera Ball 2009 !

Prices for admission only tickets are EUR 340,- incl. fees each.

Please send us your ticket request for this outstanding event: info@viennaticket.com

Date:            February 19th, 2009
Admission:   9 p.m.
Start:           10 p.m.
Dress:          Ladies: long evening dress / ball gown
                     Gentlemen: tail

Seat/table reservations only on request. We won't get our contingent of tickets before beginning of February, therefore mailing is not an option, only hotel delivery or pick-up from our agency.

Vienna, celebrated city of music, takes pride in inviting you to the Imperial Ball in the halls of the Hofburg Palace. Celebrate the beginning of the year 2007 in the state apartments of the ancient imperial winter residence. According to the motto of this year ”Johann Strauß, the king of waltzes” accompanies you through the evening.

7.30 p.m.

Admission for dinner guests
According to old Austrian tradition you are welcomed by the ceremony of the “Imperial Guards” in the entrance hall. Johann Strauß conducts his orchestra and you are presented with a cocktail to the strains of music. Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz Josef greet the guests and well known orchestras invite you to dance in the festively decorated state chambers, enhanced with thousands of flowers.

8.45 p.m.

Gala banquet
Waiters in livery serve a sumptuous four-course dinner including welcoming cocktail, red and white wine and champagne, prepared by Catering’s Best by InterContinental Vienna, www.cateringsbest.com, the creative specialist for event-catering.

10.00 p.m.

Admission for ball guest
with the traditional ceremony of the Guards and the Imperial Couple and a glass of sparkling wine as a welcoming cocktail.

From 10.00 p.m. on

Viennese Waltz Café
Enjoy Viennese Melange and Waltz music played by Johann Strauß.

10.45 p.m.

Traditional Polonaise
with the Young Ladies and Young Gentlemen Committee

00.00

“Happy New Year“
At midnight the ringing of the Pummerin, the bell of St. Stephans Cathedral, can be heard and the Imperial Couple wishes a hearty “Happy New Year”.

00.05 a.m.

Viennese Operetta Gala
As climax of the ball a grand waltz and operetta show program takes place in the Festival Hall. It features singers and dancers from the State Opera and the Volksoper

1.15 a.m.

Quadrille
under professional guidance to the strains of the “Fledermaus-Oveture” by Johann Strauß

03.30 a.m.     Conclusion

Prices for admission tickets incl. assigned seats, gala dinner with cocktail & drinks included: Marmorhall, Geheime Ratstube, Rittersaal EUR 510,00 (various halls as to below map), and other halls upon request, at EUR 610,00 / 680,00 (all incl. fees)
Entrance tickets with seat/table assignement à EUR 280,00 and EUR 230,00 and also just general admission at EUR 170,00 (all incl. fees)-

Guests who want to experience New Year's Eve in Vienna with traditional Austrian music and an international buffet will love our New Year's Eve Gala in the Festsaal of Vienna Town Hall. Viennese artists and a renowned ball orchestra will entertain you during an evening that reaches its climax at midnight on the balcony of the Vienna Town Hall. The Pummerin chimes in a New Year while you welcome it with a glass of champagne.

Place:   Vienna Town Hall – Celebration hall
Entrance from Lichtenfelsgasse, Feststiege
Time:    Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Entrance from 7.00 p.m.
Opening 8.00 p.m.

Price: (incl. assigned seats, a sumptious dinner & wine - - menu to be informed about later)
per person, tax, service charge and booking fee included EUR 250,-

Artistic Programme:

7.00 p.m.

• Entrance and welcome cocktail.

  8.00 p.m.

• Welcome by our ball orchestra. After hors d'oeuvres variations served by our waiters, the international buffet with sweet and sour specialities will be opened.

  8.45 p.m.

• Classic opening by the Young Ladies' and Gentlemen's Committee, followed by a programme of classic and modern music performed by our ball orchestra. Enjoy a cross section of Viennese operetta music and a dance performance.

  Midnight

• Welcome in the New Year with a glass of champagne on the balcony of Vienna Town Hall, while the Pummerin chimes in the background and the orchestra strikes up the Blue Danube Waltz. Open end with music and dancing!

Enjoy an unforgettable ball night in the festive decorated halls of the former Imperial Stock Market Exchange - The Palais Ferstel!

The original Viennese ball ensemble "Johann Strauss" and a swinging dance band will accompany you through this memorable evening till the early hours of the New Year.

Welcome the New Year with the sound of St. Stephens Cathedral's Bell "Pummerin" and the traditional "Blue Danube Waltz".

Opening at 7.30 p.m.
Start of Dinner, drinks & Music program at 8.00 p.m.

PALAIS FERSTEL
Strauchgasse 4, A- 1010 Vienna
Underground Station - U3 Herrengasse

ATTENTION: regarding to the public New Years Event "Silvesterpfad" the access to the entrance by car / taxi is NOT possible! (the inner city is blocked)

Price € 210,-- per person taxes and fees included

Menu hasn't yet been set. You will be informed later in the year.

When Emperor Franz Joseph I traveled with guests of state, he often chose a ride on the Imperial-Royal Court Train. A steam engine pulled the splendidly furnished salon carriages from Vienna to the summer residence of the emperor in Laxenburg or traversed other sections of the countries of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Since all of the carriages of this train were destroyed during the First World War, this imperial splendor has only survived in narration, designs, and photographs.
It is due to the former engine driver Gottfried O. Rieck that today guests from all over the world can experience this dream on rails. Rieck has had the magnificent carriages reconstructed in laborious detail by experienced craftsmen following the original designs. He has put great emphasis on the use of original material and authentic documents from the Austrian monarchy.
This romantic outing is not only a nostalgic experience for train aficionados. It is also ideal for weddings, birthdays, and private and business celebrations.

TIMETABLE
Thursday May 1, 2008
Thursday June 5, 2008
Thursday July 3, 2008
Thursday August 7, 2008
Thursday September 4, 2008
Thursday October 2, 2008

VENUE: 6:15 PM Belvedere Palace / Main entrance
Reception and guided tour “Belvedere by Night”
Guided tour through the palace park to the train station
DEPARTURE OF THE DE LUXE SPECIAL TRAIN
Vienna Südbahnhof 8:00 pm
The special train, consisting of de luxe carriages, will be pulled by a nostalgic electric locomotive.
Participants will be welcomed on the red carpet in front of the salon carriage by the liveried chef steward. Romantic tour through Vienna on the railroad tracks of the monarchy. The course includes the only art nouveau railroad in the world, through the Vienna Prater across the Danube with a view of the Vienna skyline and through many districts of Austria's capital. Dinner with all table drinks included in the price.
ARRIVAL: Vienna Südbahnhof 10:50 pm

PRICE INCLUDING VAT € 195,– per person
This includes the reception at Belvedere Palace, a guided tour through the famous collection of Klimt paintings, an accompanied walk through the park to the Südbahnhof railway station, an evening tour in the de luxe special train through Vienna with a gala dinner and all table drinks.