Powdery reflections of lilac and blue cast an enchanting illusion over the Grand Canal of Venice. Outside the Palazzo Pisani Moretta, whispers of anticipation hover above the water as anonymous eyes widen from behind glistening masks. Beyond the palace’s gothic façade, a hedonistic wonderland awaits; chiselled acrobats descend onto clouds of feathered headpieces and 18^th century characters come alive. This is Il Ballo del Doge, the surreal soirée where fantasy and reality rub shoulders and tradition and innovation dance hand in hand.

A bold and evocative Venetian masquerade ball, Il Ballo del Doge is the creation of esteemed atelier, Antonia Sautter. The event takes place in 15^th century palace, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, situated along the famous Grand Canal of Venice. This renowned location, together with Sautter’s striking artistic production, has cemented the ball’s status as the standout event of the annual carnival in Venice. Every February, the event attracts an exclusive circle of guests, disguised in luxury period attire designed by Sautter herself. With a ticket comes the promise of unforgettable carnival entertainment and decadent Venetian cuisine, as well as the opportunity for personal reinvention in a truly magical environment.

Sautter’s vision began in 1994, after an encounter with Terry Jones, member of the comedic Monty Python team. The two creatives were brought together whilst working on a BBC documentary on the Crusades, where Sautter was assigned as coordinator of costume and scenic design for the television shoot. Inspired by this aesthetic recreation of the past, Sautter set out to revive the splendour of the Venetian aristocracy: Il Ballo del Doge was born. These days, the event gives an admiring nod to tradition in its reconstruction of the 18^th century Venice masked ball, whilst looking boldly into the future with an experimental flair.

The imaginative production of the event makes Il Ballo del Doge the most creative masked ball in Venice, reflecting Sautter’s exotic dreams of sound, texture and colour. Through her surreal theatrical settings, the designer demonstrates an innovative concept of luxury, founded on the fantastic. Dreams and reality fuse through her set designs, as the living and inanimate become blurred: sculpted statues come to life, revealing themselves as camouflaged dancers, whilst hanging chandeliers pose as twinkling jellyfish. Candlesticks double as mythical tripods and painted heads emerge from under laden banquet tables. Each lantern and fabric is meticulously planned, elegantly framed by the palace’s baroque interiors.

Every year, set designs are created for a specific theme, each bringing its own emotion and spirit. Past themes have included ‘’The Magnificent Ephemeral’’, ‘’Carnival Rhapsody’’ and ‘’Rebirth and Celebration’’. With their focus on concepts such as provocation, folly, miracle and sin, all themes are akin in their unapologetic endorsement of indulgence and playful transgression. Through her unconventional production, Sautter creates an intoxicating new world, where the weird is welcomed and the outlandish encouraged. The theme for 2022, the 28^th edition of this masked ball in Venice, is Amor Opus Magnum, promising a night entirely dedicated to love.

The grandeur of the setting is matched by the luxurious costumes of the guests, who become part of the art through their extravagant attire. As with any masked ball in Venice, the costume-fitting process is a momentous event, held at the Atelier Antonia Sautter in the heart of Venice. The fitting marks a moment of reinvention; the chance to sample a mysterious new identity and cast your role in the performance. Successful bankers become majestic Venetian royalty; their real identities hidden behind precisely adorned masks. Time is suspended in this workshop, and guests become the glamorous medium between the past and the present.

With a portfolio of costume designs for film and TV, Sautter’s sartorial detail is unmatched, as she remodels artisan traditions through her unique artistic lens. As a guest, you receive a bespoke fitting service, matching you to a selection of handmade period costumes originating from the middle-ages to the 1920s. Hand-embroidered lace ball gowns are meticulously matched to ribbons of venetian silk. Velvet waistcoats are paired with curly periwigs or silver-studded tricorne hats. On the night of the event, the Grand Canal of Venice is alive with colour and sparkle, as the flamboyant crowd makes their entrance.

The final day of the carnival in Venice was traditionally acknowledged as a last hurrah to gluttony and excess before the 40 days of lent began. Luckily for her guests, Sautter continues this custom through Il Ballo del Doge, which promises an indulgent Venetian banquet. Each year, Michelin-starred chefs are charged with putting an experimental spin on the sumptuous feasts of the original 18^th century Venice masked ball. Each course is meticulously crowned with a crisp glass of champagne or an imaginative mixologist creation, shaken with luxury liquors. The presentation of the food is outshone only by the lavish table settings and their dazzling centrepieces.

A masked ball in Venice would not be complete without its performers, and entertainment takes centre stage at Il Ballo del Doge. Over one hundred performers roam the palace’s three floors, including fire eaters, acrobats, opera singers, jesters and burlesque dancers. As dusk turns to night, the audience joins in the action, dancing alongside prestigious guests who have previously included European, Middle Eastern and Asian royalty.

Mystical decorations, seamless set designs and mesmerising lace ball gowns make Il Ballo del Doge the ultimate place to experience the elegant chaos of the Venice Carnival. Described by ABC Television as ‘’one of the ten things one must do in one’s lifetime’’, the event is much more than a social occasion; it is an immersive artistic experience, offering a temporary escape from the constraints of reality and a unique opportunity to live the extraordinary. For those lucky enough to secure a ticket, all that’s left to do is devise a new identity and prepare for a party of mythical proportions.