Just Home from Vienna !!!!!

My wife and I just got home from Vienna. We had a table in the main ballroom for the Kaiserball at the palace, and danced at midnight of the new year to Strauss%26#39; %26quot;Blue Danube%26quot;....Marvelous! We went to the Ballet. %26quot;Nutcracker%26quot;....Marvelous. We went to the Barber of Seville, also at the State Opera House....Marvelous! We went to the Volksopera....Marvelous! We attended the Lippazoner Stallion performance at the Spanish Riding School....Marvelous! We had a number of coffee%26#39;s at the Sacher House....Marvelous! I won%26#39;t even get into what we did after the train ride to Salzburg. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS THREAD YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND??

My wife and I soaked in every minute. For the past year and a half we learned to Viennese Waltz here in the outback of New Mexico (%26#39;Billy the Kid%26#39;) country.

alas....Our Hearts Yearns for Vienna.

We would do it again in a second....at twice the price.

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You just posted the ideal trip report! I am always particularly happy if my hometown receives such a good assessment. I also like that you attended a lot of cultural events for which Vienna became famous and renowned.

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Mikey....We Love Your Town. Now for the BIG QUESTION. We started planning our trip for 2008/9 the end of 2007. We did everything we wanted to do EXCEPT....THE NEW YEAR%26#39;S CONCERT of the Philharmonic. Would you like to become my new best friend and tell me how I can manage a couple of tickets to that venue???????? I even spent quite a bit of time while there working on this future trip. TO NO AVAIL. I am going to have to %26#39;KNOW%26#39; somebody.

Also....We are now thinking of the Opera Ball....Same story, except maybe a little better odd%26#39;s of finding tickets.

It will be expensive next time we come. I will try to bring both my daughters + son%26#39;s in law, and my grandaughter. Man, that will hurt

Anyway....any thoughts?

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I would not regard the Vienna Opera Ball as a must-see as there are many much nicer balls in Vienna probably featuring more ambience (although I have never attended the big ball). The Opera Ball is the most famous in the world and attended by many national and international politician and artists. Furthermore, a local entrepeneur in possession of too much money anually invites an international pop or movie star - preferably attractive women - in order to be on the cover of major newspapers and magazines. In the recent years Vienna saw Pamela Anderson, Carmen Elektra, Paris Hilton, Dita Von Teese and others. Last year Desperate Housewives front star privately appeared at the Vienna Opera Ball. Everything is much more expensive and if Mr. Lugner, the entrepeneur I mentioned, repeatedly engages a super star from Hollywood expect numerous TV cameras and congested hallways.

Tickets for the New Year%26#39;s concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra can only be won. Register on their website in order to be drawed. Maximum: 2 tickets

www.neujahrskonzert.at/verlosung_en.php

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I need to add something really important!

Of course you have to pay for the ticket after you have been drawn! :)

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Each year fewer people of Vienna and nearby attend the Opera Ball.

It is quickly losing its reputation and quality.

Many former guests now refuse to attend.

Frau Gurtler of the Sacher no longer in charge.Herr Elmayer who for some years organized the opening March now is dismissed- a big loss in my opinion.

Attendees come from all over paying crazy prices for the name not the quality of the Ball.

Much nicer are some other Balls especially the Philharmonic Ball in the Musikverein- much better dancing and local attendees.

Not just less expensive but more fun to me.

Dancing until 5 AM with tradition.

www.wienerphilharmoniker.at

for New years concert tickets - act quick the entrance to the annual lottery closes January 23rd.

Perhaps you have luck

www.wienerphilharmoniker.at

for good information and instructions.

If you are willing and have a good hotel concierge- they can often find tickets for a high price.

Reserve the hotel early and speak directly to the concierge.

Some subscription holders sell their tickets too you just must know where to look - again not cheap.

A good alternate are the concerts on the 30th and 31st - actual probe ( rehearsels ) for the New Years

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Vertical %26amp; Mikey....you see gentlemen...THAT IS WHY I PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU MEN HAVE TO SAY. I am sure you have hit the nail right on the head concerning the balls!! Especially the Opera Ball. If we want more good singing, we will just continue to go to the Opera. So....I will head toward the Philharmonic Ball....or the Florist Ball. I would choose to hear the Philharmonic primarily anyway.

When I was 20 years old I sang in the Opera House, St. Stephens %26amp; the Mozarteum. Way back in 1971-72. I Sang in a Quintet...I sang Counter-tenor, we were few and far between in those days. It%26#39;s been a long time since I participated in the big game.

Now I spend my summers in Africa, hunting professionally %26amp; filming. It is exciting and dangerous....but there is NO SUBSTITUTE for the culture and ambience of Vienna.

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Is the Coffehouse owners ball good?

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Of course not to compare with Ball der Philhamoniker but it is a real nice ball in the Hofburg (what else you can ask for) and so I can recommend it.

Here is the homepage:

http://www.kaffeesiederball.at/

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As a unique experience the Vienna opera ball cannot be surpassed. The other balls mentioned are certainly wonderfully Viennese and offer better dancing(less congested), however the ambience of the opera house is FANTASTIC. Been there 3 times with friends. Cannot be topped. I know the Viennese LOVE to HATE the opera ball...they are just snobby, another lovely Viennese trait ( I know, I am ex-Viennese myself).

Sometimes best way to get tickets to unique and hard to come by performances(=Neujahrskonzert)is to use the fact that you are indeed coming from far( e.g. Caribbean)and BEG. It has worked for me.

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Those in Vienna do not need to hate the Opera Ball. It does enough harm to itself.

Many avoid this Ball as they know the situation , know better Balls exist where you can have a much nicer evening of enjoyable dancing, friendship.