This year, the ZuckerBäckerball is enriched by a very special attraction: Mel Merio, one of Austria’s most distinguished DJ personalities, will take command of the Radio Wien Ball Disco. A native Viennese, she is far more than a DJane. As a presenter, event organiser, and activist, she has stood for positive energy, diversity, and creative empowerment for over two decades.
We spoke with her about her appearance at the 123rd ZuckerBäckerball.
© Elsa_Okazaki
Mel, are you a true “ball tiger”, and do you enjoy attending balls in your private life?
Mel Merio: “I am not a ball tiger in the conventional sense. I have the great fortune of standing at the DJ stand at almost all the balls that truly matter to me – including some held at the Hofburg or even the infamous Vienna Opera Ball. This season alone, I am appearing at fourteen balls. If one allows the term ‘ball tiger’ a somewhat broader definition, then it certainly applies to me. I adore the ball season and its beautiful traditions. Yet each evening is unique in its own way, and as a DJane it is my task to respond individually to the respective audience every single time.”
What can guests of the ZuckerBäckerball expect from you in the disco?
Mel Merio: “High energy, positive vibes, and the very best atmosphere! A Radio Wien disco in such magnificent surroundings is legendary every single time. What the production team achieves here again and again is truly impressive. Musically, the ZuckerBäckerball offers an extraordinarily wide-ranging programme, ensuring that there is something for everyone. We embark together on a journey of classic Radio-Wien-Sound through time, from the 1970s, 80s and 90s right up to the present day. Guests can look forward to Italo classics and Austropop just as much as to standard dances or modern EDM beats – precisely whatever suits the moment. I place great importance on responding to both the moment and the people; DJing is always an interaction. What awaits us is both a shared voyage through time and a journey across genres, carried by a dynamic that allows one simply to let go.”
Are you a classical dancer? May one expect to see you on the dance floor in the Grand Hall?
Mel Merio: “You will most likely not encounter me in the Grand Hall – partly because I am certainly not a classical ballroom dancer, but above all because I shall be fully occupied, in the best possible sense, DJing and dancing behind the booth. I am a dancer through and through, and once I hear the music, I instinctively give myself over to it entirely. I must confess, quite honestly: I cannot even dance a waltz! Learning choreographed dances is almost impossible for me. But dancing itself – that is simply who I am. It is essential to me and among the most beautiful things there are.”
Will you be watching the opening ceremony?
Mel Merio: “Absolutely! I am very much looking forward to the opening and will most certainly watch it. The traditional performance by the Viennese dance schools in black and white is marvellous every single time, and the Vienna State Ballet is, of course, an absolute highlight. I am particularly eager to see the star guest, Moritz Mausser. He is a magnificent musical star and portrayed Falco in ‘Rock Me Amadeus’ in a truly phenomenal way. As I am a devoted Falco fan myself, I simply must not miss this performance.”
Which cake is your favourite?
Mel Merio: “My favourite cake is, without question, the Malakoff cake. I loved my grandmother’s version most of all – my ‘Nonna’, as we called her. For me, that was the finest Malakoff cake imaginable. Nowadays, however, I tend to prefer the vegan version.”
What should one on no account miss at the ZuckerBäckerball?
Mel Merio: “The ball is so rich in experiences that one hardly knows where to begin! Naturally, the Radio Wien Disco where I will be DJing sits right at the top of the list. The opening ceremony will surely be unique and splendid once again. I am a great admirer of balloons, so the three balloon showers filled with wonderful vouchers are a very personal highlight for me. And for those with a sweet tooth, a visit to the show bakeries is an absolute must. There, baking takes place live; one can watch the professionals at work and draw inspiration. For someone like me, who cannot bake at all, this is utterly fascinating – and one can indulge in delightful tastings whenever a little refreshment is needed.”
What do you expect from the ZuckerBäcker Award cake exhibition?
Mel Merio: “This is an extraordinarily exciting part of the ball! One encounters true works of art there – pieces one can scarcely believe are actually cakes. They are, rather, exquisite sculptures. The exhibition is located directly after the entrance, so it is impossible to miss. I find this year’s theme, ‘The Realm of Magicians’, particularly fitting, for bakers are, to my mind, precisely that: true magicians. The exhibition will surely be a feast for the eyes in the truest sense of the word.”
The Radio Wien Disco with DJane Mel Merio takes place from 10.00 p.m. until 4.00 a.m. in the Gartensaal of the Hofburg.