THE Opera
Ball, the highlight of Vienna’s social calendar,
will offer its thousands of guests an extra
speciality next month alongside the traditional
Sachertorte and the Blue Danube waltz:
nicotine inhalers.
They will be available to help guests to cope
with the shock of a ban on smoking imposed by
Ioan Holender, the Opera’s director.
Smoking is as much a
part of Vienna’s café society as coffee and
pastries. At least half of Austrians smoke. Some
of the ball’s enthusiasts have demanded Herr
Holender’s resignation and threatened legal
action.
In an attempt to head off the fury that
threatens the only profit-making event in the
opera house’s year, Herr Holender has pledged to
pay for the nicotine inhalers. Trained medical
advisers provided by the Austrian Chamber of
Pharmacists will also be on hand to give
counselling to people unable to deal with the
stress of an entire evening without a cigarette.
Those who want to nip out for a drag will
face a daunting crush. Some 4,800 guests are
expected to join musicians, dancers, waiters and
various performers, to make a total of about
7,000 people. The average ticket price is £300.
The first official Vienna Opera Ball took
place in the Staatsoper in 1935, but the
Viennese do not like to recall those of
Nazi-occupied times.
The ball’s official history now begins in
1956, when it was revived after rebuilding the
followed the Second World War.
This year the event takes place on February
3.
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