Victoria Swarovski is, yet again, on her way to Vienna. The next rehearsals for the Eurovision Song Contest are coming up. For the past few weeks, she has been commuting between the Austrian capital and Cologne, where she appears every Friday live on camera as a host of the popular competition series Let’s Dance. Two high-profile shows at the same time – and yet, her countenance displays no sign of exhaustion. On the phone, she bubbles with infectious energy. A conversation about endurance, life in the public eye – and of course – Vienna.
When you host the finale of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on 16 May, nearly 170 million people worldwide will be watching – are you nervous?
Not at all. Right now I’m still very relaxed and simply really looking forward to the evening. I can’t see those 170 million people from the stage, so it doesn’t feel that tangible to me. I think I’ll be more nervous in front of the 10,000 people in the Stadthalle. The atmosphere will be very special, and so will the immediate feedback you get and feel as a presenter.
When did you find out you would be hosting the Eurovision Song Contest?
In Austria, the newspapers were already speculating right after the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel: “Will it be Victoria Swarovski?” People called me and congratulated me, and I often had to say that I didn’t know anything. And I really didn’t. Until August, when I received a call from ORF’s program director, Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz, asking me for a meeting in her office. There, she then asked me directly.
What did you reply?
Without hesitation: “Of course, I’ll do it!” For me, it’s an Olympus.
Anyone who hosts the Eurovision Song Contest represents the host country.
Being able to do that in and for Austria, where I grew up, is a huge honour for me.
Vienna is often listed in international rankings as an unfriendly city. Is there any truth to that?
You have to take the famous Viennese “grant” (grumpiness) with humour. What matters much more is that Vienna is frequently ranked among the most liveable cities in the world. Quite rightly so, in my opinion.
Where do you like to spend an evening?
I enjoy going for a drink at the Do & Co Bar. From there, you have a direct view of the beautiful St. Stephen’s Cathedral. A restaurant I particularly like is Plachutta on Wollzeile, very traditional and right in the city centre.
What can you shop for in Vienna that you can’t get anywhere else?
Custom-made shirts at Gino Venturini, one of the oldest shops in the city, just around the corner from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Once you’ve been measured there, you don’t have to worry about anything anymore and your shirts can be shipped all over the world.
Vienna isn’t complete without…
Sacher cake. Although I personally am a huge fan of the Sacher cube with rum, it’s even juicier than the cake.
Do you have a hotel tip for us?
The new Mandarin Oriental. Everything is very well arranged, as we say in Austria. A great spa and a really good gym, which I use regularly. I always stay there during Eurovision rehearsals and show week. It feels like home.
How do you actually prepare for the shows?
We started two months ago. From Sunday to Wednesday I’m in Vienna for rehearsals and recordings, and from Thursday to Saturday I’m in Cologne for Let’s Dance. In between, I was also in Berlin to launch my fashion brand Orimei by Victoria Swarovski with About You. The last three weeks before the Eurovision Song Contest are really scheduled down to the minute, there’s hardly a free moment from early morning until late at night.
