Elina Garanca spent yesterday rehearsing for tonight's Vienna Opera Ball, where she's set to wow the crowds with an aria from Samson et Dalila and the Vienna favourite Wien, Wien, nur du allein. Her backing band? The Vienna Philharmonic, appearing at this pinnacle of the Austrian social calendar for the first time ever.
Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott are expected too, but they won't be performing (unless perhaps they overdo the champagne). Instead they'll join guests including Bob Geldof and Larry Hagman.
But it's likely all eyes will be on Ruby - "I can only belly-dance, I can't waltz" - the 'belly dancer' at the heart of the Berlusconi underage sex scandal. She has reportedly been paid a whopping 40,000 euros to accompany tiresome self-publicist Richard Lugner, whose previous escorts have included stripper Dita von Teese and Paris Hilton. This may be the last time he embarrasses Vienna though - applications are already due for next year's ball, but Mr Lugner's name is apparently not amongst them.
photos © Christian Bruna/TZ Österreich
