The VOB was also a culinary and cultural feast as it is each year and is considered the most prestigious Viennese Opera Ball outside of Vienna. The Waldorf Chefs Peter Betz and Director of Culinary David Garcelon oversaw each and every plate including the individual desserts that were shaped as miniature jeeps. Later they prepared the supper at the official Tanz Bar parties that continued until 4:00AM in the Jade and Astor rooms, adjacent to the Grand Ballroom, where a late-night Austrian supper—from goulash soup to Viennese pastries awaited.          

With the co-host including, Alyson Cambridge, a Leading Soprano on Top Opera and Concert Stages Sherrill Milnes the World-Renowned Baritone & founder Sherrill Milnes VOICE Programs and distinguished newsman Thomas Roberts an MSNBC Host and NBC News Anchor

The 60th anniversary of the iconic VIENNESE OPERA BALL (VOB) was celebrated as a Diamond Jubilee Friday, February 20, 2015 Since debuting in 1955 under the auspices of the US-Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the VOB has quickly became a premier white-tie charity gala reflecting Austria’s great cultural legacy. Proceeds from the 2015 Ball will sponsor gifted American musical students accepted by the American Institute for Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria.

In it’s venue, the Waldorf Astoria, the always inventive Viennese Opera Ball’s 60th anniversary was for marked for both the Ball as well as the signing of the Austrian State Treaty re-establishing Austria’s sovereignty post-WWII. UN Secretary-General Ban ki-moon and Mrs. Ban opened the Ball, with ceremonial flourish in a Grand Procession of important Austrian and American dignitaries including Vice Governor of Vienna Mrs. Renate Brauner, H.E. Ambassador Martin Sajdik and Mrs. Sajdik, H.E. Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting and Mrs. Mayr-Harting and the United States Ambassdor to the United Nations Samantha Power. The dignitaries were escorted by United States Military Academy, West Point cadets. As is the custom of this important event, the national and UN flags were presented by The Color Guard, United States Military Academy, West Point

T The first 4 hours of the Ball flew by with 700+ guests alternating between audience and participants on the dance floor of the Grand Ballroom. There was the Debutante Presentation of the 16 young ladies and their dashing escorts in White Tie. Choreography by Austria’s own Heinz Heidenreich. Peter Duchin led his Orchestra in Playing Strauss and Ziehrer for their Deb’s dance performance. Then came a surprise highlight of the evening, a tribute to the 1955 Signing of the Austrian State Treaty by the US, Great Britain, France and Russia. a vintage Willys Jeep took its turn around the Ballroom to honor the US, British, French and Russian military who were known as “4 Men in a Jeep.” Their UN military attaches of those nations rode in the jeep, which, for safety reasons, was propelled by the strength of West Point cadets! All the evening’s program was the determined vision of Marcie Rudell, Executive Director of the VOB as well as its creator & producer.

The Operatic Interlude of the VOB began with 2 horses and 2 carriages (courtesy of William Berloni theatrical animals brining in the Opera singers of the Met Opera stage. Operatic versions of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" and "Glitter and Be Gay" were presented along side the “The Jewel Song” from Charles Gounod's "Faust." There were also ballets in vintage uniforms that captured the 60th Anniversary theme choreographed by Joao Tiago Fernandes Courtesy of Dance With Me USA a company owned by Dan Maks & Val Chmerkovskiy and Tony Dovolani’s of “Dancing with the Stars”

The VOB was also a culinary and cultural feast as it is each year and is considered the most prestigious Viennese Opera Ball outside of Vienna. The Waldorf Chefs Peter Betz and Director of Culinary David Garcelon oversaw each and every plate including the individual desserts that were shaped as miniature jeeps. Later they prepared the supper at the official Tanz Bar parties that continued until 4:00AM in the Jade and Astor rooms, adjacent to the Grand Ballroom, where a late-night Austrian supper—from goulash soup to Viennese pastries awaited.

The themes of 60th Anniversaries & Diamond Jubilee were are celebrated to their fullest at the 60th Viennese Opera Ball.