Despite freezing temperatures in Austria on Thursday, the cream of European society turned out for the annual Opera Ball. Hollywood actress Andie MacDowell also mingled with the aristocrats and dignitaries in the Vienna Opera House, as around 6,000 socialites from all over the world gathered together for a night of glitzy fun.
Many of this year's revellers arrived in horse-drawn carriages in defiance of the winter chill, passing as they arrived the majestic River Danube.
The yearly gathering is an opportunity for the well-heeled to brush off their tuxedos and ballgowns and dance the night away. Attendees have to know their waltz from their foxtrot if they want to strut their stuff on the main dancefloor, but for those in search of an old-fashioned boogie, there's also an "Opera Ball Disco" in the basement. The merrymaking stretches long into the night, with one of the world's best orchestras playing the most romantic works of Johann Strauss.
Other notable figures who turned out for this year's event included Polish President Aleksandar Kwasniewski and Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
