“Same time, next year“: Does anyone still remember this play by Bernard Slade? I do.

And I know why it comes to my mind.

Every time I think of the Opera Ball, which has turned into quite a questionable „Event“, I remember „Same time„: Not exactly as the play (in which the characters become older as the years pass by) but as in our present reality, in which the media coverage of anything became unprofessional, shrill and strident reflecting a great part of the guests who they are interviewing.

Apart from all this, it is, we must admit, quite a hard task not to be repetitious and boring year after year, while working for an “institution”.

It has been years since I was last at the Opera Ball and, only God knows how difficult it is, to have the patience to watch the „Ball of the Balls“ from my Bergère at home to find out what the Vienna State Ballet is up to. I won’t write much anymore about the ORF (Austrian TV-Chanell), except to say that there is an urgent need , among other things, to “re-think” its moderation philosophy.