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The greatest event of the Budapest Carnival season is organised as usual on the last Saturday of the season, 21st February 2009. This year it is not only the celebration of music, dance and fashion but this the 125th season of the State Opera House.

The history of the Opera Balls goes back to 1886 as it had been organized first that year and had become a tradition of Hungarian aristocracy. In 1934 the last ball was held and it was forgotten for six decades. In 1996 this outstanding social event was organized again. This time the leading persons of the middle class that is to say the Hungarian culture, knowledge, power and money met each other. Old traditions like the opening dance of a hundred debutant dancers were revived and modern traditions like inviting star guests were introduced. Among the star guests of the first ten years were Montserrat Caballé, Ornella Muti, Sascha Hehn, Y. Nesterenko, Walter Berry, Heinz Zednik, Katia Ricciarelli, Patrizio Buanne, Catherine Deneuve, Katarina Witt, Gina Lollobrigida and Daryl Hannah.

This year the organizers of the ball are intending to present a programme, which celebrates the anniversary with arias from one of the on-going performances, Manon Lescaut. The menu is provided by the Gundel Restaurant, one of the most exclusive restaurants in Budapest. It includes the most well-known meals of Hungarian cuisine like goose liver, but it also present the specialities of European gastronomy.  The ball is opened by more than a hundred debutante dancers after a short opera programme then comes the 'Alles Walzer' so that people dance till dawn. The music is played by various Hungarian orchestras and bands.
For more information visit: www.operabal.com