It's hard to say that Richard Lugner and Elle Macpherson have appeared as a particularly harmonious duo so far. The model, which Lugner should accompany on Thursday at the Vienna Opera Ball, had all sorts of special requests announced: Lugner is according to their own information fly around a hairdresser, the model also look even more by a designer in London over.

Sounds expensive - but these differences and problems are obviously overcome (or were never really relevant). Anyway, Lugner has now praised his opera ball star guest at the first joint appearance in highest tones. "She gives me great pleasure, she's nice, she's beautiful," he said of his 54-year-old companion.

"There can be nothing better than going to the opera ball with Elle Macpherson tomorrow," said the 86-year-old in Vienna. "I have to say, she is the nicest and friendliest guest I have ever had." Since 1992, Lugner has been hiring one or more stars each year to accompany the opera ball - including Sophia Loren, Pamela Anderson, Geri Halliwell and Kim Kardashian.

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Lugner and Macpherson: Mortel's Model

Macpherson, who became known as a model under the name "The Body" is, according to their own information very excited about the opera ball: "I do not know exactly what to expect there." She was looking forward to the whole ceremony, the many dresses of the other guests and the historic ambience in the opera house. "And I'm glad to try a Wiener schnitzel tomorrow." The fact that Macpherson stumbled off the stage after the press conference and did not cloud the mood.

Whether there will be a joint waltz of Lugner and Macpherson remained open. "I'm not a good dancer and I do not want to embarrass my host," Macpherson said. Lugner, who had recently given an opera ball interview of curious kind, should be the right: The 86-year-old considers himself also not a good dancer.

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Excitement: The Viennese soap opera ball

The Australian model had recently caused a stir, among other things with exclusive dining wishes. "The proposed menu does not meet the requirements for healthy eating," Lugner recently said. The Austrian chef Toni Mörwald had put together a menu including tuna belly, beef fillet and medlar with champagne and meringue - for a total of 394 euros per person.

Mörwald then designed a vegan menu, in the main course stewed carrots with miso, buckwheat and Chinese cabbage to be served. Whether Macpherson, according to Lugner generally a difficult negotiating partner, was satisfied, is not known. In any case, she asserted that she was not exaggerating the healthy diet: "I had already eaten a gugelhupf when I arrived last night," she said. "And he was delicious."