On 1 March 2014 the Hungarian State Opera organized the Silver Rose Ball with a charitable purpose: proceeds were raised for an ambulance to be purchased by the Hungarian National Emergency Ambulance Service.
The balls at the Opera are connected to a different theme every year. In 2014, it was a highlight of the Strauss150 Season. The ball received its name from the core symbol of the opera Der Rosenkavalier. The ball of arts and sports was attended by 1200 guests. Its mission was to create, represent and convey value; cherish and maintain a 130-year-old heritage; spread culture as part of our national heritage; popularise arts, while supporting charity purposes as well.
Having realized these aims, the contribution by several figures of business life and the service industry made the ball a real success. 25 sponsors provided a financial support of 200 million HUF. Experts who provided for the quality of the Silver Rose Ball were stylist Márk Lakatos, parfumeur Zsolt Zólyomi, sommelier Ádám Klemens, hair stylist Péter Gábor Sáfárik, make-up artist Dora Gräff, chef András Wolf.
The Opera aimed to present the highest quality with the programmes as well with special guest stars Polina Semionova, ballerina of the American Ballet Theater, and internationally renowned Bulgarian soprano Vesselina Kasarova. The gala featured sports displays and performances by soloists of the Hungarian National Ballet. The gala was directed by Ferenc Anger, artistic director of the Hungarian State Opera, and Tamás Solymosi, director of the Hungarian National Ballet. The Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra was conducted by Péter Halász principal music director. Principal patrons of the event were Pál Schmitt, honorary chairman of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, member of the International Olympic Committee, two-time Olympic epée champion along with his wife, Katalin Makray, Olympic silver medallist gymnast. Hosts of the event were internationally renowned soprano Erika Miklósa and world, European and Hungarian pentathlon champion Péter Sárfalvi.
The special gala performance was broadcast live on Duna Television, which resulted in a further 147.000 viewers. Altogether 550.000 viewers switched onto the broadcast – this is equal to the viewer ratings of Christmas programmes.
Following the gala, performers of quality music appeared at the different venues: Hot Jazz Band, Budapest Bár, Michael Bublé Tribute Band, Karosi Júlia Quartet, Lilla Polyák and Zsolt Homonnay, Imre Rakonczai, Nikoletta Szőke Quartet, András Csáki, DJ Bear, DJ Bootsie, and Zagar (Balázs Zságer) awaited the guests of the ball.
The programmes were enjoyed by guests of honours: Hungarian artists and sports champions including water polo world champion dr. András Bodnár, opera singer Gábor Bretz, 49-times member of the Hungarian national football team Jenő Buzánszky, choreographer Imre Dózsa, opera singer Attila Fekete, pentathlon world champion Leila Gyenesei, two-time Olympic, three-time world kayak champion Gábor Horváth, three-time Olympic and three-time kayak world champion Zoltán Kammerer, poet Sándor Kányádi, gymnast Botond Kardos, pentathlon world champion Róbert Kasza, three-time world champion water polo player dr. Gergely Kiss, opera singer Ildikó Komlósi, world champion water polo player Zoltán Kósz, professional boxing world champion Mihály Kótai, three-time Olympic kayak champion Katalin Kovács, opera singer Kolos Kováts, Olyampic, world and European kayak champion Roland Kökény, four-time Olympic champion fencer Győző Kulcsár, author and poet János Lackfi, sculptor Márk Lelkes, actor Ervin Nagy, ballet dancer Zoltán Oláh, choreographer Lilla Pártay, opera singer Sylvia Sass, opera singer Eszter Sümegi, ballet dancer Aliya Tanykpayeva (Étoile of the Hungarian National Ballet) , Olympic pentathlon champion dr. Ferenc Török, Olympic silver medallist and three-time European judo champion Miklós Ungvári, silver and bronze medallist European epée champion Katalin Varga, Olympic pentathlon champion Zsuzsanna Vörös.
The beneficiary of the event, the Hungarian National Emergency Ambulance Service was represented by general director Béla Burány along with his wife, Edit Kovács, who took on the role of patrons of the event to underline charitable cause of the ball.
When summarizing the results of the Silver Rose Ball, director general Szilveszter Ókovács informed the press about the 2015 charity ball and its accompanying events. The ball in 2015 is entitled Faust Ball to correspond with the Faust Season. Special guest star is international superstar soprano Angela Gheorghiu. The second charity ball takes place on 14 February 2015.