Former U.S. President Bill Clinton delivers a speech, right, next to Gery Keszler, left, organizer and founder of the Life Ball and British musician Elton John during the opening ceremony of the 21st Life Ball in front of city hall in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday, May 25, 2013. AP
VIENNA— Cross-dressers, half-naked revelers, a famed fashion designer, entertainment icons and former U.S. President Bill Clinton are sharing the spotlight in Vienna for the Life Ball, one of Europe’s biggest AIDS fundraisers.
As in past years, Vienna’s city hall and the huge square in front of it has been transformed into a magical stage, with this year’s theme being the Middle Eastern “Tales of 1001 Nights.”
The show on the square befitted the occasion Saturday. Orchestras and disc jockeys served up a musical menu that spanned the range from Mozart to Disney, all with the “1001 Nights” theme.
Clinton was among the more than a dozen prominent guests that included Elton John and star designer Roberto Cavalli. Clinton urged the world to get involved in the anti-AIDS fight.