„An opera begins long before the curtain goes up and ends long after it comes down.“; Vienna State Opera
Sometimes I don’t want a bag. Not jewelry. Not a trip. Sometimes I just want an evening at the Vienna State Opera. And that’s exactly what I did. For Valentine’s Day. Yes, I’m that woman. While others want roses, I say, „I’d like tickets to the Vienna State Opera.“ And not sometime in the future. But right now. And please, the right way.
We’re not going to the Opera Ball this year, unfortunately. But honestly? When we walked up the steps to the Vienna State Opera last Monday, everything still felt just as grand. It was a Monday. A perfectly ordinary Monday. And yet it was packed. The Vienna State Opera was filled to capacity. That soft murmur before the performance, that gold shimmering from the balconies, that collective „We all know we’re feeling special right now“—I love it.
And then our box. (germ. Loge) First row. Right at the front.
I sat down, looked down, and a waltz started playing softly in my head. I immediately felt like a princess. And I’ll tell you quite honestly: it pays to get good seats. At a ballet, you want to see every fingertip, every tension in the foot, every turn. From further back? It feels like you only see moving shadows. If you’re going to the Vienna State Opera, do it right.
Where Vienna takes a stand
– architecture, gold and a touch of drama
The Vienna State Opera is an architectural statement in itself. This imposing building on the Ringstrasse seems as if someone decided to carve culture in stone. Arches, loggias, columns, this meticulous attention to detail at every turn – nothing about it is accidental. Inside, the gold, combined with red and cream, instantly evokes that feeling of a grand evening. You enter the foyer and your posture automatically straightens. There’s something stately, almost theatrical about it – but in an elegant, understated way.
And now for a fun fact that many don’t know: At its opening in 1869, enthusiasm for the building was surprisingly muted. Apparently, some members of Viennese society found it too low and not imposing enough – which seems almost absurd from today’s perspective. Today, the Vienna State Opera is considered one of the most important opera houses in the world. I love this idea: that something initially viewed critically later becomes a symbol of Viennese elegance and culture. Perhaps that’s precisely what makes Vienna so quintessentially Viennese.
Emeralds, rubies, diamonds
– and my heart somewhere in between.
The ballet was called Jewels. And the name alone sounds like an evening gown. It consists of three acts. Three precious stones. Three completely different worlds. The first act: Emeralds – green, soft, almost poetic. The second act: Rubies – red, energetic, a little cheeky. The third act: Diamonds – cool, clear, classic. Shimmering blue and white like ice under spotlights.
I’ll be honest: The first and third acts were my heart. This classic ballet, these lines, this synchronicity, this timeless elegance. That’s exactly why I love ballet. That’s exactly why I wanted to go to the Vienna State Opera.
The second act was a blend of classical and modern. Technically impressive, no doubt. But modern ballet just isn’t really my thing. I prefer it structured. Fairytale-like. Strictly beautiful. The Ruby Act was a tad too experimental for me—even though the energy was incredible.
But the costumes? Unreal.
Sparkling. Perfectly cut. Every movement captured the light. I would have loved to put on a tutu like that myself and float across that stage. And now for a thought that perhaps not everyone shares—but I’ll say it anyway: During many scenes, I thought of Barbie. As a child, Barbie was the epitome of a ballerina for me. Tall. Slender. Perfect posture. Graceful. And while watching this ballet at the Vienna State Opera, that exact image came flooding back. Anyone else feel the same?
My dress, my mood
& my personal opera ball moment
I didn’t dress half-heartedly for this evening. Long black dress. Open back. High neck in the front. Black stilettos. Over it, a bouclé/Chanel-style vest. Makeup a bit darker, more mysterious. More drama than everyday life. If not at the Vienna State Opera, then where? And now I have to get something off my chest. I know I mention this at a lot of events. And I apologize in advance for every time I say it again in the future.
But.
When you go to the Vienna State Opera—or to a ballet performance in general—and look like you just rolled out of bed, it pains me a little.
Elegance doesn’t have to be expensive. But it is an attitude. There were some beautifully dressed women, men in suits, lovely fabrics, shiny shoes. And then, unfortunately, there were also the opposite. My husband—by now at least as critical as I am—suggested that everyone probably dresses more elegantly on weekends. Is that true? Perhaps we’ll test that in a future ballet at the Vienna State Opera.
The little loophole
(we all know it)
Photos and videos are strictly forbidden during the performance. And that’s a good thing. The atmosphere at the Vienna State Opera thrives on this concentration, this shared immersion.
But…
After each act, all the dancers come back on stage together and take their bows. And that’s precisely when photography is allowed. I wasn’t the only one who discovered this.
Unfortunately, I didn’t know this after the first act—so I don’t have any pictures of the Emeralds. It wasn’t until the second and third acts that cell phones suddenly started flashing everywhere. And of course, I was right in the middle of it. Perhaps it’s not such a bad thing that I didn’t capture everything. Perhaps some things are simply meant to be experienced firsthand. Perhaps you should go to the Vienna State Opera and see this ballet for yourselves.
Two breaks, no Aperol,
and lots of Viennese charm
There were two intermissions in total. And as always, the same thing happens during intermissions:
Everyone rushes to the buffet at once. Or to the restroom. Or to the best spots for photos. Because we—or rather, I—had already taken our pictures at the beginning, we weren’t stressed. The buffet was… let’s just say decent. Nothing I’d need to rave about for weeks.
There were two waitresses in our section. With that typical Viennese charm, somewhere between dry and charming. During the first intermission, we couldn’t get anything to drink. It was simply too crowded. We finally had success during the second intermission. Plot twist: They were out of Aperol.
How can they run out of Aperol at the Vienna State Opera? That’s still an open question for me. Luckily, they still had Prosecco. And quite honestly—Prosecco in a box overlooking a ballet doesn’t exactly feel like deprivation.
Diamonds and goosebumps
The third act – The Diamonds – was my absolute highlight.
This classical ballet, this synchronicity, this precision. Everything seemed weightless and yet incredibly powerful. I got goosebumps several times. It’s precisely for moments like these that I love ballet. It’s precisely why I was so determined to go to the Vienna State Opera. And in that moment, I understood why the Vienna State Opera is a place of longing for so many.
It’s not just a performance. It’s a feeling.
You sit there, see this perfection on stage, hear the music, feel the palpable energy in the room – and for a few hours, everything else fades away. The Diamonds had something majestic about them. Almost cool. But not detached – rather sublime. The movements were so clear, so precise, as if each dancer were a piece of a large, perfectly cut crystal. Not a single movement too many, not one too few. Everything had structure, poise, discipline. It’s precisely this rigor that I love about classical ballet.
And at the same time, it contained so much emotion. This blend of technical perfection and quiet emotion – that, for me, is true art. In those moments, the Vienna State Opera wasn’t just a building. It was a palace. And we were right in the middle of it.
my summary
and my princess moments
And now I at least know a little bit about what the Vienna Opera Ball feels like.
As we slowly left our box after the final applause, I looked back one last time. That gold. Those tiers. That light. And I thought to myself:
Okay. Now I at least have a little idea of how people feel at the Vienna Opera Ball. Maybe it was „just“ a ballet. Maybe it was „just“ a Monday. But for me, it was one of those evenings that will stay with me.The Vienna State Opera gave me exactly what I wanted: elegance, emotion, drama, a touch of princess-like luxury, and a whole lot of inspiration. And one thing I know for sure now: I’m going to want tickets again. Another ballet. Another box.
And perhaps that was precisely the most beautiful thing about the evening: that feeling of „I’m treating myself to this.“ Culture. Elegance. A grand stage. Powerful emotion. Not for a special occasion—but because a Monday deserves it just as much. The Vienna State Opera reminds me that we can consciously create such moments for ourselves. And perhaps even must.
And once again, that feeling that Vienna is simply the most beautiful stage in the world. ✨
Xoxo, Vani
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