The Beistegui Ball

Charles de Beistegui at the Balcony of Palazzo Labia

It was in the late summer of 1951 that Don Carlos de Beistegui -Charlie for friends- gave is famous costume ball.
Le Bal Beistegui, that stands in social history as one of the -if not the- most famous balls of the 20th century, took place in Charlie's spectacular Palazzo Labia in Venice and was attended by the Aga Khan, Gene Tierney and Countess Jacqueline de Ribes, among princes and millionaires from the entire world.

Princess Maria Pignatelli, Countess Consuela Crespi, and the Count of Clary

It was the first grand party after the World War II. Invitations went out six months before for people to have time to get ready. Have the costumes made and get to Venice in 1951 could be an adventure. Boat and train took five days. The ball was a lavish party and newspapers were full of it.

Guests at the Beistegui ball

All over Europe the expectant guests were worrying over their costumes and preparating for the great night. People elaborated majestic entrances into the ball and rehearsed for days before.

Shoeless spanish Marquis and Marchioness de Marianao

It was told that an extraordinary procession of chauffeur-driven basketwork Rolls Royces processed through the Simplon Pass in the direction of Venice, with large Dior boxes strapped onto their roofs -"a human chain of Reboux hatboxes, as one of the guests put it.

On the day of the party Charles de Beistegui disappeared to a suite at the Grand Hotel in order to avoid frenetic scenes as people claimed their invitations had not for some reason arrived.

From the wide canal that flows into the Grand Canal, where the excited waiting crowd cheered and clapped them, guests arrived. Atmosphere was electric long before people reached into the ball and there were some of the guests who came out to join in the fun , removing their masks to the delight of the crowd.

Baron Alexis de Redé, Arturo and Patricia Lopez Willshaw

Arturo Lopez Willshaw, the great collector and party giver who had always loved China and Chinese artifacts, and his wife, Patricia, dressed as the Emperor and Empress of China made an apotheotic entrance.

Baron Alexis de Redé

Baron Alexis de Redé who was part of the group remember " I was an attendant in their suite, with a fantastic chinese crown, staff and sword, looking, I confess, rather like the last 'boy' emperor. Our costumes were exact copies of those in the famous tapestries, 'the Voyage of the Emperor of China'. Their arrival in a great chinese junk was said the most spectacular of the evening.

Jacques and Genevieve Fath

Jacques Fath as Roi Soleil

The couturier Jacques Fath and his wife, dressed as the Sun King, had to remain standing in his gondola because “his posture [was] dictated by a costume so perfectly fitted and heavy with embroidery that he could not sit,” wrote Prince Jean-Louis de Faucigny-Lucinge in his book Legendary Parties.

Paul-Louis Weiller, Madame Mallard, Diana Cooper, Baron de Cabrol, Madame Hersent

Lady Diana Cooper as Cleopatra

Lady Diana Cooper, dressed as Cleopatra by Cecil Beaton and Oliver Messel, made a entrée that "people thought was the loveliest sight with the light from yhe windows of the palazzo falling on her face and pearls and blonde wig" inspired in the Palace's Tiepolo superb fresco The Banquet of Cleopatra that was the central theme of the ball -The Labia is indeed famous for it central room, which is tremendously hight, and adorned with frescoes by Tiepolo representing Antony and Cleopatra.

Costumed guests sit in front of the fresco by Tiepolo

Group of guests posing

Diana's husband Duff Cooper, former British ambassador to France, had a sack stitched under is domino costume to hold a flask. He had been to enough Beistegui parties to be aware of the likely shortage of alcohol, and he was aware of the potential boredom of waiting for al the entrées to pass.

Charles de Beistegui

Receiving his guests at the top of a giant staircase, Beistegui was a conspicuous presence in an 18th-century sausage-curl wig and platform buskins which elevated him two feet above everyone else, so that he could see and be seen on the night that was probably the most important night of his life.

Gene Tierney

Everyone from the Aga Khan to the actress Gene Tierney, at the peak of her Hollywood career, was there. The stunning event was photographed by Cecil Beaton for Vogue.

Cecil Beaton and Friends

The entrées then occupied a great part of the evening, "some better than others". Princess Caetani, Countess Jacqueline de Ribes and Princess Colonna weared identical white and black masks.

Orson Welles and Mademoiselle de Heeren

Christian Dior's costume was designed by Salvador Dalí, the old Aga Khan was a "sinister looking figure in blak silk" and Orson Welles was in black tie with his head suitably topped with feathers as his costume was late.

Daisy Fellowes as la Reine d'Afrique

Daisy Fellowes came as the Queen of Africa. She was not feeling well that night and so she laid down on a bed before making her entrance. When it was her turn to parade, she rose from the bed and turned into a queen. "She was by far the most elegant person at that ball. I have never seen anyone walk as beautifully as she did. She had in-born style." Baron de Redé said.

Seventy footmen in costumes from the Duchess of Richmond's ball the night befor Waterloo, attended the guests. Ballerinas from the Marqus de Cueva's company performed sarabandes and minuets in the courtyard.

Guests de rigeur

The firemen of Venice performed a fantastic human pyramid, four rows high, in the central room of the palace, a troupe of giants entered and there were two jazz bands.

Aimée de Heeren, Baron Alexis de Redé and Orson Welles

Apart from these displays and the spectacle of the costumed guests, "the supper was good, and the drink plentiful" -not always the case at a Beistegui entertainment. Some of the guests did not get home till 6 am.

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Diogo Mayo, January 2009