What do Johann Strauss, Jr and Paris Hilton have in common? Next month they will both be front and center at Vienna's greatest society event of the season: the Opera Ball. Hilton is, of course, the celebrity heiress who's most famous for being famous (and for proving you CAN be too rich and too thin!).
According to the stories on the wire this week she was supposed to be doing co-princess duties with Britney Spears, but apparently they've had a falling out (and Lindsay Lohan is in rehab). I just want to know if 1) Paris can waltz, and 2) if she's ever heard of Strauss.
Hilton is the guest of a wealthy industrialist who feels she can give some updating to the very traditional (white tie) event. Word is she's being paid $1 million for her appearance. For that much I hope she sings a cover of "Voices of Spring" at least.
The ball season starts with the New Year's Eve Imperial Ball (Kaiserball) at the Hofburg and ends with the Opera Ball in February. In between there are about 300 balls put on by various groups (the Physicians' Ball, the Coffeehouse Owners Ball) and back in the day it was almost mandatory to have a new Strauss waltz as the centerpiece of your big dance party.
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