Wiener Opernball

So, as you know the Austro-American Institute is on Opergasse, right across the street from the famous Staatsoper, nestled in the heart of Wien. It is huge and beautiful. The Staatsoper company began back in the mid-1800's. But the current building actually is not that old because during the 2nd world war, it was completely destroyed and rebuild afterwards in 1955, but it still looks old-style. This Opera house is very prestegious and produces over 60 operas per year and they always have different well-known Opera singers who perform. Unfortunately these operas cost more than they make and are therefore heavily subsidized by the government. So even here in the "Welthaupstadt von Musik" (World capital of music) the arts are subsidized...Interesting...I wonder if the arts always have to be subsidized in order to succeed.

Anywho...I'll get to the point. Eventually. Monday morning, Becky and I were on our way to school, skipping along through the Karlsplaz throngs of people (drug-dealer people, policemen, homeless people, hurrying people and even fur coat people). We walked out of the U-bahn and lo and behold there was a pile of construction trucks and people blocking our usual route to school. This was a bit of a hiderance which made us a few minutes late to German class (Prof. Peter was not impressed...in his impatient Austrian way). This whole week we have watched as the Staatsoper area gets busier and busier, with bustling workers and equipment. They are preparing for the Wiener Opernball, which takes place tomorrow. It costs something like 250 euros for the basic entrance fee...with an additional 100 euros for coatcheck and any other sort of perks. Today in class our teacher said that sometimes there are demonstrations held there on the evening of the ball to show their dissatisfaction of this display of wealth. Our professor also informed us that this is the only day that the Opera House makes a profit. Interesting. The actual reason I wanted to tell you this was that apparently and demonstrations held in Vienna must be registered with the police! How odd. But sort of brilliant. That's all. I thought that was funny.