The first Vienna Philharmonic Ball was held on the 4th of March 1924, after only eight weeks preparation. The event met all expectations – in terms of financial success and social glamour. 

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The traditional ball has now taken place over 70 times. The most appropriate venue was and still is the Wiener Musikverein building, which opened in 1870. Starting with the first Subscription Concert on 3 November 1870 under the baton of Otto Dessoff, the Vienna Philharmonic had found a permanent home – both for its traditional New Year’s Concert in the “Golden Hall” and for its traditional ball. 

The composer and conductor, Richard Strauss, wrote a fanfare to welcome the guests of honour to this extraordinary dance. It is played by six trumpets, eight horns, six trombones, two tubas and two timpani. 

Did you know that …

the goal of the ball was to raise money for the orchestra’s welfare institutions? A custom which still continues to this day.