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The alliance for good

February 2011 is a date reserved for the fifth Russian Ball, which will be hosted under the motto “An Alliance for Good” – bringing together culture vultures from across the globe to celebrate an evening of jaw-dropping art and performance.

Our outstanding program is a coming together of music, dance and theatre, presenting in its own unique way the different aspects of Russian culture – the theme changing from year to year, ensuring that guests never quite know what to expect. Friends of the Russian Ball grows year-on-year, so that in five years the ball’s reputation has been transformed from an insider-tip to a popular event - an international venue that welcomes a glittering array of people united through their interest for Russian culture and its enduring vitality. In spite of this growing popularity, the familiar and yet highly exclusive character of the ball ensures that the regal charm of the evening is not lost.

The fifth Russian Ball invites the amazing Moscow Operetta Theatre for the first time this coming February. Clips from various Russian operettas will play-out in the background, including those from Austria, the operetta’s homeland. The ball will be inaugurated by Tatjana Petschnikova, the prima donna of the New Opera in Moscow, who was simply sublime in her midnight performance of Bellini’s Casta Diva at this year’s ball. We will also be looking forward to a performance from the pupils of the Feuervogel music centre, while a dancer from the renowned Moscow Music Hall will be on hand to moderate the ball night.

The fifth anniversary is sure to be a great party, with gifts, cakes and many surprises to delight guests throughout the evening, including highly exclusive Champagne by Comte Audoin de Dampierre - offered to the lucky guests as a once-in-a-lifetime birthday special.

We are excitedly awaiting this remarkable event and do look forward to seeing you there.

Russian Ball presentation in Moscow

The fifth Russian Ball was presented in the gallery of world-famous Russian artist Ilja Glazunov in Moscow. Russian Ball host Nathalie Holzmüller advertised the outstanding program of the Anniversary-Ball in this fantastic location.

The extraordinary ball event takes place on the 18th of February 2011 under the motto “An Alliance for Good” in the Imperial Palace Vienna. Special guest will be Tatjana Petschnikova, soloist of the “new opera” in Moscow. The winner of the Golden Mask and the Casta Diva award will open the ball program. Many great partners are supporting the fifth Russian Ball; one of them is the academic state theater “Moscow Operetta”. Clippings of Russian Operettas are shown during the ball to emphasize this year’s theme “Operettas”. Further partners and participants are the dancers from the Moscow state “Music Hall”, the dance ensemble „Alania“ and soloists from the Vienna State Ballet and the Viennese Ball Orchestra.

With the performances of young musicians, the pianist Olga Popova from Moscow and the singer Timur Slanov from Wladikawkaz, the Russian Ball wants to call attention to the Russian Ball Charity Project “Hope”. The children’s home “Mirowo” in Voronez (Воронеж) will be supported with charitable donations.

Among the presentation’s guests of honor there were:

Consul General of the Austrian Embassy, Dr. Edwin Ferner; Austria’s Trade Commissioner, Dkfm. Dietmar Fellner; Vice president of the Republic of North Ossetia and representative of the President of Russia, Alexander Totoonov; Department Head of the Russian State Department, Oleg Siborov; Member of the honorary committee of the Russian Ball, Prof. Natalia Koroleva; President of the Austrian Economy Penal, Dr. Paul Bruck; Marketing manager of Mariott Hotel & Resorts, Alexej Gaidin; PR-Manager of „Grishko“, Viktor Gutermann; Chairman of „Ball in a Russian Manor”, Alexej Semiletkin; Honored artist of Russia, member of the Russian Ball honorary committee and designer of the Ball’s symbol, the “Feuervogel”, Prof. Ivan Glazunov;

The presentation in Moscow was supported by the Russian Ball Cooperation partners Lobmeyr, Mazbani, Lenz Moser and Dampierre.

The general press partner is the newspaper „Izvestija“.

Russian Ball presentation at Lobmeyr

On Friday, 3rd of December, friends of the Russian Ball met at Lobmeyr Kärntnerstraße to get a joyful foretaste of the upcoming celebration. Dr. Erhard Busek, who was recently named president of the EU-Russia-Center in Brussels, emphasizes the importance of cultural contacts for the Austrian/ Russian relationship in his welcoming speech. The thanked Russian ball host Nathalie Holzmüller for her dedication in intercultural communication and highlighted the Russian Ball as an important contribution to represent Russian Culture in Austria as well as to help creating a new Europe.

Dr. Busek characterized the Lobmeyr headquarter as the perfect location for the Russian Ball pre-event, as it represents Viennese tradition, creativity and artistic spirit with international reputation. Nathalie Holzmüller represented her ball taking place in February at the Imperial Palace Vienna under the motto “An alliance for good”, which is interpreted as an union of culture vultures from across the globe. Mrs. Holzmüller pointed out the importance of the alliance between culture, politic and economy and thanked the company Lobmeyr for their support. Beside she thanked the Imperial palace Vienna, represented by business manager Mrs. Mag. Renate Danler and her assistant Mrs. Mag. Claudia Lohschmid, for the successful cooperation during the last five years.

The artistic program of the fifth Russian Ball was presented by a short performance of the artists. Tatjana Petschnikova, soloist of the New Opera Moscow, admired artist of Russia and awardee of the “Casta Diva” and the “Golden Mask”, sang the aria of Konstanze from the opera “The Abduction from the Seraglio” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and songs of Rachmaninow and Glinka.

The dancer of the Vienna state ballet Josefine Tyler and Alexander Masljannikow danced the Danube waltz with choreography by Prof. Evelyn Teri. Piano player Pavel Singer performed compositions from the film music of Georgij Swiridow film “The snowstorm” in the name of Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra Vienna and accompanied Tatjana Petschnikova on the piano. Among the prominent guests was the long-term friend of the host and Lobmeyr Prof. Ernst Fuchs.