‘Sell-out’ as Strauss goes stricly Scouse for Viennese gala events

Feb 5 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

DEMAND for the Viennese Balls at St George's Hall has been so great that all free tickets were allocated just hours after being released to the public.

In what is sure to be one of the most antici-pated events of 2008, the two galas will be held in April, led by two of the stars of Strictly Come Danc-ing in the opulent surroundings of one of Liverpool’s most historic buildings.

Commissioned for Liverpool's European Capital of Culture year to tie in with the Gustav Klimt exhibi-tion coming to the Tate, the galas, on April 12 and 13, will feature celebrity dancers Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag and music by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

It took just 2½ hours for the events to effectively “sell out” with queues around the block at the box office of the Phil-harmonic Hall and unusually high telephone and email demand.

Organisers at the Culture Com-pany say “Strauss will go strictly Scouse” at the 900-capacity galas.

Live music from the RLPO with principal conductor, Vasily Petrenko, will include Blue Danube Waltz, Roses from the South, Thunder and Lightning Polka and Radetzsky March.

The first gala – at night – is on Saturday, April 12, and is a formal occasion for adults with tuxedo, tails or ballgowns dress code.

On Sunday afternoon, the gala is less formal, appropriate for ages 12 and over, with Viennese coffee and pastries available.

The galas mark the beginning of a city-wide Viennese theme inspired by the arrival in May of the largest ever UK exhibition of Gustav Klimt at Tate Liverpool.

Johann Strauss himself, the inven-tor of the waltz, does have links to the city. In August 1838, he gave six concerts at the Royal Amphi-theatre in Liver-pool, inspiring local imitators, aware of the appeal of the Viennese music, lost no time in turning Strauss waltzes into 'Scouse' waltzes.

The Viennese Balls in Liverpool hark back to this period while connecting with the resurgence ballroom dancing is enjoying.

Vasily Petrenko spoke of the RLPO’s excitement ahead of the event: “The Strauss family were waltz maestros, their music fizzes with vitality and I'm sure everyone who comes to dance will find their music irresistible. St George's Hall is the perfect setting to recreate the glamour and excitement of the Viennese Ball.”

Cllr Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council and deputy chairman of the Liverpool Culture Company added: “The Viennese balls are one of the highlights of the 2008 cultural calendar – one of the most unusual free events the city has ever seen. We hope that ballroom dance enthusiasts and those wanting to learn to dance and practice their skills will take advantage of this great opportun-ity and enjoy Strauss's superb music in this unique setting.”

Some tickets are still available for community workshops ahead of the galas to teach local groups to waltz, from the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall box office on 0151 709 3789.

They will be taking place in seven community centres across Merseyside in mid-March. For more information, visit www.liverpool08.com

vickyanderson