Echo of the Viennese Ball
Ukrainian television long ago rejected the idea of broadcasting artistic events — you can barely see a painting or sculpture on TV — performances of our famous choirs or world-renowned singers, not to mention symphony concerts or an inaccessible extravagance, such as premieres.
The reason is clear. The goal of contemporary television is not to inform or educate, and not even to amuse audiences but, as everybody knows, to serve advertisers conscientiously, which is much more profitable than satisfying some sort of artistic whim. There is every indication that this tendency will grow, and soon commercials will gradually supplant even political programs. In order for our politicians’ televised speeches to be heard, they will have to mix nice bits of advertising that may be selected according to their “interests.”
Today I want to discuss something the Viennese Ball at the National Opera of Ukraine, an event that our television highlighted more or less in detail, if not very professionally. The broadcast sparks a lot of questions and dismal thoughts. This ostentatious holiday for the “elect and invited” (in other words, the wealthy) is taking place at the very time when a considerable (the majority?) part of Ukraine’s population is in the worst of moods, and life is hard and uncomfortable. People are afraid of the rising costs of water, gas, electricity, floor space, bread, potatoes, and eggs — for everything, actually — and winter, meaning ice-covered ground, bitter frosts, and daytime darkness are yet to come.
Right at this very moment, television — as though broadcast from another planet or at least another country — is showing glitter, music, and dancing; men and women in expensive formal wear (or without them), the sparkle of diamonds, foreign drinks, and hors d’oeuvres. Significantly, many of the men shown on camera are politicians on whom society’s welfare totally depends. I can just imagine what a lonely old person or a young woman, who is earning a living for herself and her children in some market in the cold or the rain, feel when they see this ball — the winners’ ball — watching people who have attained everything in their lives, including the world-famous Viennese Ball.
There is no need to argue that everyone — including wealthy people — has every right to entertain the way s/he likes and according to his/her tastes and means. The fact of the matter is that in certain periods, when a considerable part of the population lives in distress, when the gap between poverty and wealth has reached a dangerous point, and when the menacing biblical phrase “Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin” appears in the banquet hall, it is absolutely unethical to publicly flaunt your wealth, your financial opportunities, your women dripping with jewelry, and your banquets. It is unethical — and dangerous.
It is also unprofitable, for there was nothing to watch at the “Viennese” Ball, except for the show of evening dresses and the guests’ rather odd style of dancing. For although the incomparable Katia Osadcha was performing her professional duty, her repertoire was, as usual, limited to a survey of the women’s dresses, their jewelry and personal life, and, above all to showing off her own formal wear. As for the ladies themselves, they would be better described by Gogol: “The ladies of the town of N were somewhat portly, but they were dressed so artfully and were conversing so gently that one could not notice their corpulence!”
However, almost nothing was said about the music performed by the National Radio and TV Orchestra, the performers — professional singers and dancers — not to mention the history of the Viennese Ball history, which is full of interesting moments.
The Viennese ball is a charity event, and all proceeds from the sale of the rather expensive tickets will go to helping the poor or sick. (Tickets to the Kyiv ball are ten times cheaper than the one in Vienna.) However, this noble gesture was not highlighted in any way: the amount that was raised, which establishments or institutions will receive these funds, and who is responsible for its proper distribution. If the charity action had been highlighted rather than the ladies’ evening wear, this would have improved television viewers’ attitude to the Viennese Ball and all these wealthy people.
The event known as the Viennese Ball has its origins in the Vienna Opera Ball. Originally, it was a medieval town feast that was eventually transformed into an annual international event. Austrian balls differ greatly from Viennese balls in other countries in that not only members of the wealthiest class dance in Austria. People of all classes, professions, and ages take part in dances hosted in town clubs, restaurants, and cafes. Children dance too, having been taught how to behave and dance at a ball. All the people dance waltzes, polkas, and gallopes as they are able, according to their social class.
Not every high society likes to flaunt its wealth and financial means without regard to anything or anyone and so arrogantly, as we see in Ukraine. In some European countries they follow the rule: “If the people live poorly, the highest rank may not boast of its wealth, may not live in luxury, or drive expensive automobiles.” Swedish King Gustav XVI, who rides a bicycle to work in the capital (to be an example for his people) exemplifies this rule. Normal, intelligent people generally do not rush to create a marketplace of vanity or “a feast in plague time” in full view of the people.
