The Wiener Ball is a grand social event in Vienna, which was replicated by the Johann Strauss Society of the Philippines (JSSP) recently at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La.

JSSP presents annual musical events to fulfill its mission to develop love of music, dance and the arts, as well as to perpetuate the close cultural ties between the Philippines and the Republic of Austria, while extending financial assistance to cultural, charitable and religious organizations.

It was a grand gathering of prominent personalities and the crème de la crème of high society. Present were several ambassadors and their spouses, which added to the international ambience.

The program started with a Grand Waltz danced by officers and members of JSSP headed by this writer as chair, president Olga Severino Martel, event chair and JSSP vice president Agnes Huibonhoa, together with dance co-chairs Marissa Fenton and Lilibeth Campos.

A program of well-loved works of Mozart, Brahms, Lehar, Johann Strauss I and Johann Strauss II were performed by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) under the baton of maestro Peter Ritzen, a Belgian conductor who studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and at the École Normale de Musique de Paris.

Beneficiaries of the event are  Cultural Center of the Philippines, PPO,  Psychological Center at Marillac for the rehabilitation of abused children and girls,  Virlanie Foundation, the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag in Sampaloc and  Philippine General Hospital Foundation Hematology and Oncology Pediatric ward for indigent patients. –CONTRIBUTED