1st Opera Ball without Lugner: Stars and starlets conquer the Vienna State Opera

By Albert Otti

Vienna - Austria's high society celebrated a glittering opera ball even without socialite Richard Lugner (†91). A Hollywood star guest was missing, but numerous starlets shone in extravagant gowns.

320 young debutantes made their ceremonial entrance onto the dance floor of the Vienna State Opera with summery bouquets of flowers.
320 young debutantes made their ceremonial entrance onto the dance floor of the Vienna State Opera with summery bouquets of flowers.  © Roland Schlager/AP/dpa

Among the guests was model Leni Klum (20) in an elegantly cut glittering brown dress. "I feel like a princess," the daughter of Heidi Klum (51) told the ORF broadcaster before 320 young debutantes made their ceremonial entrance onto the dance floor of the Vienna State Opera with bouquets of summer flowers.

For decades, the Viennese entrepreneur Lugner, who died at the end of August 2024 at the age of 91, hosted illustrious guests such as Kim Kardashian (44), Sophia Loren (90) and Grace Jones (76) at the Austrian State Ball.

In doing so, he attracted international attention to the event and promoted his shopping center.

This year, Lugner's daughter Jacqueline (31) came to the Opera Ball. She symbolically left a chair free in her box. "He has left a huge gap and many people will miss him," she said before the ball. The daughter was accompanied by New York artist Alec Monopoly (39), who had sprayed a large graffiti of Lugner on his shopping center the day before.

Among the guests at the Opera Ball were models Franziska Knuppe (50, left), Leni Klum (20, center) and Larissa Marolt (32, right).
Among the guests at the Opera Ball were models Franziska Knuppe (50, left), Leni Klum (20, center) and Larissa Marolt (32, right).  © Bildmontage: Helmut Fohringer/AP/dpa

Lugner's widow mourns her lost support

Richard Lugner's sixth and last wife Simone (43) also attended the waltz party. The two had married in June. "It's difficult," said Simone Lugner about her visit to the ball without Richard Lugner.

He had been a pillar of support for her. "Now he's just missing," she told ORF. The widow was accompanied by her husband's ex-chauffeur.

The Opera Ball is an expensive event

After midnight, model and Supertalent judge Bruce Darnell (67) cut a confident figure on the dance floor.
After midnight, model and Supertalent judge Bruce Darnell (67) cut a confident figure on the dance floor.  © Albert Otti/dpa

Outside the State Opera, left-wing groups protested with slogans such as "Wealth for all!", while 5,200 guests celebrated inside - despite the economic crisis and high prices.

The Opera Ball is not for the faint-hearted: admission costs 395 euros, seats from 160 euros, boxes up to 25,500 euros. Part of the proceeds are donated to social projects. Last year, more than 400,000 euros were donated.

Not only Leni Klum was invited to these boxes, but also model and "Supertalent" judge Bruce Darnell (67). "In these extraordinary times, it is important to celebrate art and culture," he told ORF. And so he did. After midnight, he cut a confident figure on the dance floor.

British actor Ed Westwick (37, "Gossip Girl"), German singer Sasha (53) and German model Franziska Knuppe (50) also attended the ball.

This year, the Opera Ball was not only marked by crises, but also by terrorist attacks and threats.

In January, an offshoot of the Islamic State terrorist network targeted the Vienna ball season, among other events. The Ministry of the Interior therefore increased security measures and deployed hundreds of officers to protect ball guests.