Times Square Gossip

  The Viennese Opera Ball The Viennese Opera Ball returns to Cipriani 42nd Street In a celebration of culture, tradition and timeless glamour, for its 70th annual gala, marking a major milestone for one of New York City’s most enduring and distinguished international social and cultural events on Friday, May 8th, 2026. This year’s Ball carries added resonance as it also honors 270 years of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart while also recognizing the 250th anniversary of the United States, underscoring the evening’s long-standing role as a bridge between Austria and America.     Founded in 1955, the Viennese Opera Ball has for seven decades brought the elegance, ritual and romance of Vienna’s grand ball tradition to Manhattan. Held under the auspices of the U.S. Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the Ball has become a cherished symbol of Austrian cultural heritage in New York, uniting diplomats, dignitaries, philanthropists, corporate leaders and members of the arts in an evening th...

  Jean Shafiroff Philanthropist, TV host, author  and longtime supporter and chairwoman of the Viennese Opera Ball Jean Shafiroff hosted and underwrote a reception with over 100 guests at her New York residence to officially kick off the 70th Annual Viennese Opera Ball, one of New York’s oldest and most prestigious white-tie galas celebrating Austrian culture, diplomacy, and the enduring friendship between Austria and the United States. The reception honored the Ball’s significant milestone year and gathered  supporters, cultural leaders, and patrons of the arts ahead of the landmark 70th Anniversary Viennese Opera Ball taking place in 2026. During the evening, NYS Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright (representing the NYS Assembly) awarded Citations to both Jean Shafiroff and the Viennese Opera Ball for their exemplary work in philanthropy.   This special evening included performances by acclaimed opera stars Elizabeth Sutphen, Soprano, and Brandon Cedel, Bass-Bar...

  Denise Rich Viennese Opera Ball In a celebration of culture, tradition, and timeless music, the 69th Annual Viennese Opera Ball returned to Cipriani 42nd Street, for one of the most spectacular evenings in New York’s social calendar. This year’s gala held resonance, commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss II, the “Waltz King”. Co-Chaired by Jean Shafiroff and Denise Rich, this year’s Ball benefited Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, and the music therapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, continuing the event’s legacy of supporting charitable causes through the arts. The evening opened with the presentation of debutantes and their escorts choreographed by Sandra Stockmayer from Svabek Dance School Vienna, followed by a ballet performance featuring Christine Shevchenko, Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, joined by young dancers from the Rock School of Dance and members of the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), with th...

  Jean Shafiroff Jean Shafiroff With Angel Pai The 69th Annual Viennese Opera Ball returns to Cipriani 42nd Street this May 2025, for what promises to be one of the most spectacular evenings in New York’s social calendar. This year’s gala was launched formally at a kick-off cocktail reception hosted by philanthropist, TV host and author Jean Shafiroff at her Park Avenue home with music, laughter, and a whole lot of excitement in the air. Regarding the upcoming event Jean commented, “I am delighted to host this kick-off party for the 69th Viennese Opera Ball. As co-chair along with Denise Rich for many years, I can say that the Ball will be spectacular, especially as we are excited to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss II.”   Austrian Consul General Helene Steinhaeusl With Huber Heiss Jean Shafiroff With David Hochberg Jean Shafiroff With Roy Kean One of the evening’s special moments was when both Co-Chair Jean Shafiroff and the Viennese Opera Ball w...

  Viennese Opera Ball The New York City social calendar will be filled with several important fundraisers this year. Plan for galas and shows that will help raise money for organizations that are having a positive impact on communities throughout the City and make a difference.  The New York Women’s Foundation will host their Celebrating Women Breakfast on May 8th at New York Marriott Marquis. The signature affair signature event will pay tribute to extraordinary honorees and Grantee Partners who are advancing innovative and bold solutions to create an equitable and just future for women and families in New York City and beyond. Honored guests include Foundation Chanel, Andrea Arroyo, New York Liberty, Cynthia Nixon, S. Mona Sinha, and Toshi Reagon. The group creates an equitable and just future for women, girls, gender-expansive individuals and their families by investing in bold, community-led solutions to ignite action for gender, economic, and racial justice.  Since 1...

  The Viennese Opera Ball The Viennese Opera Ball - the oldest and most prestigious outside of Vienna - will hold its annual celebration for the 67th year on Friday, May 12th, 2023, at The Plaza in New York City under the auspices of the U.S. Austrian Chamber of Commerce. The Gala chairs for the evening will be philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, who is also being honored and Denise Rich. This gala will benefit Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research and will be “A Night inspired by ‘Carmen’”, from the opera Carmen by Bizet.  The vice chairs will be Sylvia Hemingway and Peter Thomas Roth. Top opera stars will perform arias of the opera Carmen by Bizet including Stephen Costello and George Gagnidze, both in leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera, and internationally accomplished opera singers Joyce El-Khoury and Nathalie Peña Comas.  In addition, a number of leading lights of the Austrian and New York Social scene will be present for the Viennese Opera Ball, including...

  Jean Shafiroff Jean Shafiroff With Martin Shafiroff   The Viennese Opera Ball - the oldest and most prestigious outside of Vienna - held its annual celebration for the 66th year at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City under the auspices of the U.S. Austrian Chamber of Commerce. The gala benefited the music therapy program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with support from Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. The Gala chair for the evening was philanthropist Jean Shafiroff. The vice chairs were Sylvia Hemingway and Peter Thomas Roth. A special thank you goes to Ernst Woller, President of the Vienna Provincial Parliament, and the continuous support of the City of Vienna. Maria Fishel & Kenneth Fishel Maribel Lieberman With Nicole Salmasi & Alice Lutz     Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin   Some notable attendees included: President of the Viennese Opera Ball Silvia Frieser, event chair and philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, Artistic Director...

  Jean Shafiroff With Denise Rich, Star Jones & Silvia Frieser   The Viennese Opera Ball - the oldest and most prestigious outside of Vienna - will hold its annual celebration for the 66th year on Friday, May 13, 2022, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City under the auspices of the U.S. Austrian Chamber of Commerce. This gala will benefit the music therapy program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with support from Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. The Gala chairs for the evening will be philanthropist Jean Shafiroff and Denise Rich. The vice chairs will be Sylvia Hemingway and Peter Thomas Roth. Top opera stars Donata d'Annunzio Lombardi, Carolina López Moreno, Iurii Samoilov, and Johanna Will have been confirmed to perform at the 66th Viennese Opera Ball, with opera star Nadine Sierra joining as Honorary Guest. The annual white tie charity gala honors Austria and America's cultural and economic ties, uniting two continents, two cities, and two ...

  Jean Shafiroff Sessa Von Richthofen And Richard Johnson The Viennese Opera Ball hosted their Swing Dinner Dance Gala, “The Golden Age” at a private club in Manhattan. Due to the events of the past year, the gala was scaled down from previous years with limited capacity but was a great return of the extravagant affair. The Viennese Opera Ball is a nonprofit association under Section 501(c)(3) and celebrated under the auspices of the US Austrian Chamber of Commerce. The Gala Chair for the evening was philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, and Denise Rich. Each year, it supports charitable projects that are connected to communities in New York or Vienna. The proceeds of the Swing Dinner Dance benefited the Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. Jean Shafiroff With Silvia Frieser   Michele Herbert   Eve Brookville The Gala took place with the support of City of Vienna and the Honorary Gala Chair, Governor & Mayor of Vienna The Honorable Michael Ludwig, Consul General...

  The Viennese Opera Ball The Viennese Opera Ball will host their Swing Dinner Dance Gala, “The Golden Age” which will be held on Thursday, October 21st, 2021, at the Metropolitan Club. The Viennese Opera Ball is a nonprofit association under Section 501(c)(3) and celebrated under the auspices of the US Austrian Chamber of Commerce. Each year, it supports charitable projects that are connected to communities in New York or Vienna. The proceeds of the Swing Dinner Dance Gala will benefit the Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. The black-tie event will be a change up to their traditional Opera Ball with the swing dance party theme. The music for the evening will be provided by the Misha Piatigorsky Trio, with Misha Piatigorsky on piano, Benny Benack III singing and playing trumpet, Sergei Avanesov on Saxophone, and Singer Kennedy.   The Gala Chairs for the evening are Elisabeth Muhr, Denise Rich, and Jean Shafiroff. The evening will start with a reception at 7:00pm...

**** HIGH SOCIETY Photos Courtesy Of: Patrick McMullan / Getty **** Jean Shafiroff Style Icon and NYC Leading Lady, Jean Shafiroff stunned the crowd in Oscar de la Renta at the Viennese Opera Ball.  Jean Shafiroff turned heads in a striking black velvet and white floral Oscar de la Renta ballgown last week at the Viennese Opera Ball. The stunning woman paired the ballgown with opera length white leather gloves for the white tie affair which took place at the Ziegfield Ballroom in New York City.  Ms. Shafiroff, one of New York's leading ladies, is know for her philanthropy and for her carefully curated ball gown collection. Jean Shafiroff With Angela Meade About The Viennese Opera Ball The Viennese Opera Ball, an annual white tie charity gala, celebrates the cultural and economic relationships between Austria and America, connecting two continents, two cities and two centuries in one glamorous night. It was foun...