Debutantes donned their finery last night as they descended on the Austrian capital for the 63rd Vienna Opera Ball.
The 18-24-year-olds spend weeks rehearsing for the annual dance, which lasts just four minutes, and taking part is still seen as a rite of passage for many young Austrian women as their introduction into society.
Regarded as one of the highlights of the social calendar, the Opera Ball, held at the Wiener Staatsoper, dates back to 1814 and each year brings together some 5,000 guests from the worlds of culture, business, politics and academia.
The event will last into the early hours of the morning and will feature performances from the orchestra of Wiener Staatsoper and the Vienna State Ballet as 150 young couples take to the floor.
It is billed as ‘a glamorous gala of unique splendour and allure, the ball of all balls, much-copied around the world’ and expected to be watched by millions of people across the globe.
Youngsters arrive at last night’s Opera Ball in Vienna. The 18-24-year-olds spend weeks rehearsing for the dance, which lasts just minutes, and taking part is still seen as a rite of passage for many young Austrian women as their introduction into society
Dancers of the State Opera Ballet perform during the opening ceremony of the 63rd Vienna Opera Ball
The dazzling debutantes were joined by VIP guests including singer Victoria Swarovski, left, heir to the Swarovski crystal fortune, and supermodel Elle Macpherson, right, who stole the show in a dramatic black gown with lace sleeves
A young woman prepares her makeup before her big moment. The ball season in Austria is an important part of its culture and runs from November until Lent, with the Opera Ball being the last major event in the calendar
Supermodel Elle Macpherson was invited as a special guest of Richard ‘Moerte’ Lugner, who invited her onto the dancefloor
Fashion designer Silvia Schneider strikes a pose in a vibrant red dress, left. Model Barbara Meier, right, glitters in sequins
Opera Singer Anna Netrebko shows off her bejewelled gown with a dramatic twirl on the dancefloor at the Opera Ball
A debutante and her date share a quiet moment before taking to the dancefloor for their formal debut into society
Members of the opening committee dance alongside multiple guests after the prestigious opening ceremony
Tickets go on sale a year before the event takes place, and cost anywhere from €315 (£270) for general admission, to €23,600 (£20,230) for a circle box for 12 people.
Previous celebrity guests have included Kim Kardashian and Hilary Swank, and the event is watched by hundreds of thousands of viewers.
The Wiener Staatsoper is transformed into a sea of black and white as members of the opening committee line up during the opening ceremony of the traditional Opera Ball in Vienna, one of the highlights of the Austrian social calendar
Guests take their seat ahead of the Opera Ball. It is billed as ‘a glamorous gala of unique splendour and allure, the ball of all balls, much-copied around the world’ and expected to be watched by millions of people across the globe
Previous celebrity guests have included Kim Kardashian and Hilary Swank, and the event is watched by hundreds of thousands of viewers. But this year it was supermodel Elle Macpherson (pictured) who stole the show, dazzling in a floor-length gown as the special guest of Richard Lugner
Guests watch on as dancers take to the floor. The event will last into the early hours of the morning and will feature performances from the orchestra of Wiener Staatsoper and the Vienna State Ballet as 150 young couples take to the floor
But this year it was supermodel Elle Macpherson who stole the show, dazzling in a floor-length emerald gown as the special guest of Richard Lugner.
The ball season in Austria is an important part of its culture and runs from November until Lent, with the Opera Ball being the last major event in the calendar.
Last night, around 300 glamorous young people, including dancers and singers, descended on the State Opera House in Vienna to prepare for the occasion.
Debutantes dazzle at the Vienna Opera Ball. The ball season in Austria is an important part of its culture and runs from November until Lent, with the Opera Ball being the last major event in the calendar
Ahead of the prestigious ceremony, debutants prepare backstage with one woman checking through her mobile phone as she waits for the ball to begin
Debutantes get ready backstage. Regarded as one of the highlights of the social calendar, the Opera Ball, held at the Wiener Staatsoper, dates back to 1814 and each year brings together some 5,000 guests from the worlds of culture, business, politics and academia
Debutantes at the ball. Regarded as one of the highlights of the social calendar, the Opera Ball, held at the Wiener Staatsoper, dates back to 1814 and each year brings together some 5,000 guests from the worlds of culture, business, politics and academia
Youngsters snap a selfie before hitting the dance floor. The event will last into the early hours of the morning and will feature performances from the orchestra of Wiener Staatsoper and the Vienna State Ballet as 150 young couples take to the floor
A last-minute snack before a young couple take to the floor. The event will last into the early hours of the morning and will feature performances from the orchestra of Wiener Staatsoper and the Vienna State Ballet as 150 young couples take to the floor
Members of the opening committee prepare for the traditional Opera Ball in Vienna. Tickets go on sale a year before the event takes place, and cost anywhere from €315 (£270) for general admission, to €23,600 (£20,230) for a circle box
Vienna State Opera director Dominique Meye, Doris Schmidauer, Austrian President Alexander Van Der Bellen, Auma Obama and Vienna Opera Ball director Maria Grossbauer arrive on the red carpet ahead of the event
VIP arrivals: Austrian soprano Anna Netrebko and her husband Azerbaijani tenor Yusif Eyvazov pose on the red carpet ahead of the Vienna Opera Ball. Netrebko wore a stunning blue fishtail dress while her husband was in black tie
Opera singer Anna Netrebko performs during the opening ceremony. It is billed as ‘a glamorous gala of unique splendour and allure, the ball of all balls, much-copied around the world’ and expected to be watched by millions of people across the globe
Austrian members of the opening committee were pictured dressed in their best black tie attire as they rehearsed their dances for the last time before the opulent ball.
Young women wore traditional white blouses and black skirts as they took to the floor with their male partners, who were dressed in smart tailcoats.
Elsewhere, a routine incorporating peach-coloured roses took place as dancers of the Wiener Staatsballett (state ballet) practiced their performances.
Meanwhile opera singers Yusif Eyvazov and Anna Netrebko gave their lungs a workout as they joined the ultimate dress rehearsal ahead of Thursday night’s main event.
Austrian Minister for Justice Josef Moster, left, and Austrian singer Chonchita Wurst arrive. The musician won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 with a rendition of Rise Like a Phoenix
Dancers of the State Opera Ballet perform during the opening ceremony of the traditional 63rd Vienna Opera Ball
Wolfgang Sobotka (pictured far-left), President of the Austrian National Council, stands alongside (pictured left to right) Auma Obama, the half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, Doris Schmidauer, wife of Austrian President, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his girlfriend Susanne Thier
Young women wore traditional white dresses as they took to the floor with their male partners, who were dressed in smart tailcoats
Elsewhere, a routine incorporating peach-coloured roses took place as dancers of the Wiener Staatsballett (state ballet) practiced their performances
A general view of guests dancing at the traditional 63rd Vienna Opera Ball at the State Opera, in Vienna, Austria