Kaiserball

The Emperor ball was until 2012 one of the New Year's Eve balls in Vienna; Since 2013 he has the name Le Grand Bal. It takes place annually on December 31 at the Vienna Hofburg and is visited by up to 2,500 guests from 60 nations. He has been held since 1970 and is in the ballroom, in the Ceremonial Hall and in other state rooms of the former imperial winter residence of the Habsburgs instead.

Organizer

Organizer of the ball is the Vienna Hofburg Congress Center mbH, a private company that has leased the premises for a total of 17,000 m² in 1969 by the Republic of Austria and is home to mainly international conferences. Shareholders of the company are some hotels in Vienna, the Austrian Tourist Office and the Casinos Austria AG. The Vienna Tourist Board promoted the ball in the first years of public funds until the event exceeded the break-even point.

History

The idea for the Emperor ball evolved from the tradition of " court ball " and the " ball in court ", which were organized I. in the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph.

The " Court Ball " took place in late January. Invited were all people who were allowed to appear at court, about 2000 in number. After the solemn entry of the court in the Ceremonial Hall selected guests were presented to the Emperor and the Empress. On the ball room, the buffet was set. With the last waltz exactly one quarter of an hour after midnight, the ball ended

Two weeks after the " Court Ball ", the "ball in court " was held in the same premises. For this smaller and more elite over 700 guests of the high nobility and the diplomatic corps were invited. Add to Radetzky apartments and the adjacent premises were served a supper on the most valuable porcelain Hoftafelkammer, the seats were reserved by rank order. The ladies spared no expenses to be duly dressed for the occasion, and were cost at court one evening gown 300-500 guilders, more than the annual income of a servant.

The Imperial Ball drew on this tradition and was in his until 2012 embossed form since 1970. Fundamental idea of ​​return was also a revival of tourism in Vienna during the winter months when the hotel industry at that time was poorly utilized, particularly in the period around the turn of the year. The Imperial Ball and New Year's Eve 1990 for the first time hosted the Vienna New Year's Trail have led to strong hotel occupancy in the days before and after New Year's Day over the years.

Since December 31, 2013, the ball is called Le Grand Ball.