The Viennese Opera Ball had their Swing Dinner Dance Gala “The Golden Age” at a private club in Manhattan recently.
The Viennese Opera Ball is an annual white-tie charity gala that celebrates the cultural and economic relationships between Austria and America in a glamorous night. It was founded by Austrian immigrating to the United States 66 years ago and pays tribute to both their old home of Vienna and their new home of New York.
The black-tie event was a change to the traditional Opera Ball with the swing dance party theme. The event’s music was provided by the Misha Piatigorsky Trio, including Misha Piatigorsky on piano, Benny Benack III providing vocals and playing the trumpet, Sergei Avanesov on the saxophone, and singer Kennedy.
As a result of the pandemic, the gala operated at a limited capacity this year, but was still a wonderful time. The Gala Chair for the event was philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, and the Viennese Opera Ball is a nonprofit association that is celebrated under the auspices of the US Austrian Chamber of Commerce. The Gala operated with the support of the City of Vienna and the Honorary Gala Chair, Governor and Mayor of Vienna The Honorable Michael Ludwig, Consul General of Austria in New York The Honorable Helene Steinhaeusl, and the Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum New York Michael Haider.
The Gala supports charitable projects that are connected to communities in New York or Vienna, and the proceeds of the Swing Dinner Dance benefited the Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. The event included a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the same foundation. Some prizes are still available to bid on until Monday, November 1. Visit here to make a bid and for more information.
Largely considered the most prestigious Viennese ball outside of Vienna, the gala draws an international audience that includes diplomats and dignitaries, international corporations, and professionals. Notable attendees included President of the Viennese Opera Ball Silvia Frieser, event chair and philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, Consul General of Austria in New York The Honorable Helene Steinhaeusl, Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum New York Michael Haider, Hubert Heiss, Yoko Nakamura-Haider, Martin Shafiroff, Malan Breton, Scott Stone, Ana Stone, Eve Brookville, Sabine Riglos, Victoria Whipple, Paula Mahoney, Nelli Hantman, Imke Gerdes, Barbara Wennerholm, David Hochberg, Pamela O’Connor, Michele Herbert, Emily Mohr, Cole Rumbough, Sessa Von Richthofen, and Richard Johnson.
Image credit: Patrick McMullan and Rob Rich Society Allure.
