Mayerling (ballet)
Encyclopedia
Mayerling is a ballet created in 1978 by Kenneth MacMillan
for the Royal Ballet, London.
; Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich
, the mistress of whom he is tiring, introduces him to the very young – but hardly inexperienced – Baroness Mary Vetsera
who becomes his next mistress; they make a suicide pact. The Emperor, Franz Joseph
, has a mistress, Katharina Schratt
, whom the Empress Elisabeth
officially acknowledges, giving her the post of "reader" – and giving a portrait of Schratt to the Emperor as an anniversary present; only his mother, the Archduchess Sophie
objects. The Empress, known as "Sisi" since childhood (or "Sissi" as it is Anglicised), has a lover, the British Colonel "Bay" Middleton
; only her son, Prince Rudolf, objects. Rudolf in turn has a former mistress, Larisch; a new mistress, Vetsera; and a "regular" mistress, that is to say, a commoner, Mitzi Caspar, variously described as an actress and as a high class prostitute; to all of whom the Emperor objects. Mitzi is a police informer and conducting an affair at the same time with the chief of police – which leaves Bratfisch, Rudolf's loyal private cab driver and a popular entertainer – apparently at a "notorious tavern". The ballet is framed with scenes of the Baroness Vetsera's uncles bearing her corpse to her final resting place, Heiligenkreuz Abbey
.
, and was compiled from existing works arranged and orchestrated by John Lanchbery
who also conducted the orchestra during the ballet's first season. The ballet was dedicated to the Royal Ballet's founder choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton, and premiered at the Royal Opera House
, London, on 14 February 1978. The Royal Opera House collections have archive information from twelve performances of this ballet, including the premiere and subsequent revivals.
New York City premiere, the Royal Ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House
* substitute for Alexandra Ansanelli
at a revival of Mayerling (the Birmingham Royal Ballet
was dancing his Romeo and Juliet in Birmingham
.)
Kenneth MacMillan
Sir Kenneth MacMillan was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977.-Early years:...
for the Royal Ballet, London.
Synopsis
Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria is forced into a marriage of state with Princess Stéphanie of BelgiumPrincess Stéphanie of Belgium
Stéphanie was a Belgium princess by birth, and then made Crown Princess of Austria through her marriage to the heir of the Habsburg dynasty, Archduke Rudolf...
; Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich
Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich
Countess Marie Louise Larisch von Moennich was...
, the mistress of whom he is tiring, introduces him to the very young – but hardly inexperienced – Baroness Mary Vetsera
Baroness Mary Vetsera
Baroness Marie Alexandrine von Vetsera was a member of Austrian high society nobility and one of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria's mistresses...
who becomes his next mistress; they make a suicide pact. The Emperor, Franz Joseph
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
, has a mistress, Katharina Schratt
Katharina Schratt
Katharina Schratt was an Austrian actress who became "the uncrowned Empress of Austria" as the mistress and confidante of Emperor Franz Joseph....
, whom the Empress Elisabeth
Elisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others...
officially acknowledges, giving her the post of "reader" – and giving a portrait of Schratt to the Emperor as an anniversary present; only his mother, the Archduchess Sophie
Princess Sophie of Bavaria
Sophie Friederike Dorothee Wilhelmine, Princess of Bavaria was born to King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and his second wife Karoline of Baden. She was the identical twin sister of Princess Maria Anna of Bavaria, Queen of Saxony as wife of Frederick Augustus II of Saxony...
objects. The Empress, known as "Sisi" since childhood (or "Sissi" as it is Anglicised), has a lover, the British Colonel "Bay" Middleton
Bay Middleton
Capt. William George "Bay" Middleton was a noted English horseman of the 19th century. He was equerry to John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer, who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1869-1874 and 1882-1885....
; only her son, Prince Rudolf, objects. Rudolf in turn has a former mistress, Larisch; a new mistress, Vetsera; and a "regular" mistress, that is to say, a commoner, Mitzi Caspar, variously described as an actress and as a high class prostitute; to all of whom the Emperor objects. Mitzi is a police informer and conducting an affair at the same time with the chief of police – which leaves Bratfisch, Rudolf's loyal private cab driver and a popular entertainer – apparently at a "notorious tavern". The ballet is framed with scenes of the Baroness Vetsera's uncles bearing her corpse to her final resting place, Heiligenkreuz Abbey
Heiligenkreuz Abbey
Heiligenkreuz Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in the village of Heiligenkreuz in the southern part of the Vienna woods, c. 13 km north-west of Baden in Lower Austria...
.
Original production
Mayerling was first produced for the Royal Ballet in 1978, by the British choreographer Sir Kenneth Macmillan, with a scenario written by Gillian Freeman, scenery and costume designs by Nicholas Georgiadis and lighting design by David Hersey. Music for the ballet was composed by Franz LisztFranz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
, and was compiled from existing works arranged and orchestrated by John Lanchbery
John Lanchbery
John Arthur Lanchbery OBE was an English, later Australian, composer and conductor, famous for his ballet arrangements.-Life:...
who also conducted the orchestra during the ballet's first season. The ballet was dedicated to the Royal Ballet's founder choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton, and premiered at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, London, on 14 February 1978. The Royal Opera House collections have archive information from twelve performances of this ballet, including the premiere and subsequent revivals.
Original Cast
| Role | Character Description | Dancer |
|---|---|---|
| Crown Prince Rudolf | Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary | David Wall |
| Baroness Mary Vetsera Baroness Mary Vetsera Baroness Marie Alexandrine von Vetsera was a member of Austrian high society nobility and one of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria's mistresses... |
Mistress of Crown Prince Rudolph | Lynn Seymour Lynn Seymour Lynn Seymour is a retired Canadian ballerina and choreographer.She was born Lynn Springbett and studied ballet in Vancouver.... |
| Princess Stephanie Princess Stéphanie of Belgium Stéphanie was a Belgium princess by birth, and then made Crown Princess of Austria through her marriage to the heir of the Habsburg dynasty, Archduke Rudolf... |
Wife of Crown Prince Rudolph | Wendy Ellis |
| Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary Franz Joseph I of Austria Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of... |
Father of Crown Prince Rudolph | Michael Somes Michael Somes Michael George Somes CBE , was a leading English ballet dancer. He was a principal danseur of the Royal Ballet, London, and was the frequent partner of Margot Fonteyn.... |
| Empress Elisabeth Elisabeth of Bavaria Elisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others... |
Mother of Crown Prince Rudolph | Georgina Parkinson |
| Countess Marie Larisch Countess Marie Larisch von Moennich Countess Marie Louise Larisch von Moennich was... |
Lady in waiting to Empress Elizabeth and former mistress of Crown Prince Rudolph | Merle Park |
| Archduchess Sophie Princess Sophie of Bavaria Sophie Friederike Dorothee Wilhelmine, Princess of Bavaria was born to King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and his second wife Karoline of Baden. She was the identical twin sister of Princess Maria Anna of Bavaria, Queen of Saxony as wife of Frederick Augustus II of Saxony... |
Mother of Emperor Franz Josef | Julie Wood |
| Bratfisch | Private cab driver to Crown Prince Rudolph, also a a popular entertainer | Graham Fletcher |
| Mitzi Caspar | A high-class prostitute and Crown Prince Rudolph's regular mistress | Laura Connor |
| Colonel Bay Middleton | Empress Elisabeth's lover | David Drew David Drew (dancer) David Drew MBE, is an English ballet dancer and Principal Character Artist of the Royal Ballet-Biography:Drew was born in London. He received his early training in dance at the Westbury School of Dancing in Bristol, before entering professional ballet training at the Royal Ballet School... |
| Katharina Schratt Katharina Schratt Katharina Schratt was an Austrian actress who became "the uncrowned Empress of Austria" as the mistress and confidante of Emperor Franz Joseph.... |
Friend of Emperor Franz Josef | Bernadette Greevy Bernadette Greevy Bernadette Greevy was an Irish mezzo-soprano. She was founder and artistic director of the Anna Livia Dublin International Opera Festival. She was the first artist-in-residence at the Dublin Institute of Technology's Faculty of Applied Arts.-Biography:Bernadette Greevy was born in Clontarf, Dublin... |
| Alfred Grünfeld | A pianist | Anthony Twiner |
| Baroness Helene Vetsera | Mother of Baroness Mary's Vetsera | Gerd Larsen |
| Count Eduard Taafe | Prime Minister of Austria-Hungary | Leslie Edwards Leslie Edwards Leslie Edwards was a British ballet dancer and ballet master. He was one of the final links with Ninette de Valois's original pre-war Vic-Wells Ballet... |
| Count Hoyos | Friend of Crown Prince Rudolph | Ross MacGibbon |
| Princess Louise | Sister to Princess Stephanie | Genesia Rosato |
| Prince Philipp of Coburg | Husband to Princess Stephanie, also friend of Crown Prince Rudolph | Derek Rencher |
| Princess Gisela | Older sister of Crown Prince Rudolph | Sally Inkin |
| Princess Valerie | Younger sister of Crown Prince Rudolph | Marguerite Porter Marguerite Porter Marguerite Porter is an English former principal ballet dancer, turned actress and choreographer.Born in Doncaster, Porter trained in Yorkshire and at the Royal Ballet School in London, where she was taught by Dame Ninette De Valois.After two years training she joined The Royal Ballet, where she... |
| Princess Valerie (Child) | Representation of Princess Valerie as a child | Julie Rose |
| Mary Vetsera (Child) | Representation of Mary Vetsera as a child | Elizabeth Griffiths |
| Loschek | Valet to Crown Prince Rudolph | Anthony Conway |
| Count Larisch | Husband to Countess Marie Larisch | Robert Jude |
| Hungarian Officers | Friends of Crown Prince Rudolf | Michael Coleman Derek Deane Derek Deane -Biography:Deane was raised in Redruth, Cornwall, England and trained in the Royal Ballet School. As a dancer, he eventually became a Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet, later retiring from the stage and working as Deputy Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer at Teatro dell'Opera di... Stephen Beagley Michael Batchelor |
| Guests Chambermaids Whores Gentlemen Servants Ladies in Waiting |
Roles that are not significant within the plot and are not named | Artists of the Royal Ballet |
New York City premiere, the Royal Ballet at the Metropolitan Opera HouseMetropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center)The Metropolitan Opera House is an opera house located on Broadway at Lincoln Square in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the theater opened in 1966. It replaced the former Metropolitan Opera House at Broadway and 39th St...
, April 1983
- Alessandra FerriAlessandra FerriAlessandra Ferri is a retired Italian prima ballerina assoluta. She received her training at the La Scala Theatre Ballet School and the Royal Ballet School...
Baroness Mary Vetsera - Karen Paisey Princess Stéphanie
- Sandra Conley Empress Elisabeth
- Wayne EaglingWayne EaglingWayne Eagling is a former Principal dancer of the Royal Ballet in London and is a leading international choreographer and director....
Crown Prince Rudolf
Saturday, 7 April, open rehearsal
- Tamara RojoTamara RojoTamara Rojo is a Spanish prima ballerina, and is currently a Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet in London.Rojo was born in Montreal, Canada, to Spanish parents who moved back to Spain when she was four months old...
Baroness Mary Vetsera - Martin HarveyMartin HarveyMartin Harvey was a Northern Irish footballer who played for Sunderland and the Northern Ireland national football team as a wing half.-Club career:...
Crown Prince Rudolf
Monday, 9 April, matinee
- Mara GaleazziMara GaleazziMara Galeazzi is an internationally recognized ballet dancer, currently a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet in London, England.-Biography:...
Baroness Mary Vetsera - Sarah LambSarah LambSarah Lamb is a principal ballet dancer in the Royal Ballet, London, England. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, she trained with Madame Tatiana Legat at Boston Ballet School. She was awarded a Gold Medal in 1998 by U.S. President Bill Clinton after being named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts...
Countess Marie Larisch * - Iohna Loots Princess Stéphanie
- Zenaida YanowskyZenaida YanowskyZenaida Yanowsky is a Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet in London.-Early life:Both of her parents, Anatol Yanowsky and Carmen Robles, were dancers with the Lyon Opera Ballet. Later, the family moved to settle in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, where her parents set up a dance school...
Empress Elisabeth - Marianela NunezMarianela NunezMarianela Núñez is an Argentine dancer. She is a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet, London.-Biography:Núñez was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina...
Mitzi Caspar - Edward WatsonEdward Watson (dancer)Edward Watson, born in Bromley, in 1976, trained at The Royal Ballet School, he joined the Royal Ballet company in 1994 he is a principal dancer and at the National Dance Awards in 2008 won 'Best Male Dancer'.-Early years:...
Crown Prince Rudolf - Ricardo Cervera Bratfisch
Monday, 9 April, evening
- Leanne BenjaminLeanne BenjaminLeanne Benjamin is a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London.Born in Rockhampton, Australia in 1964, she trained at the Royal Ballet School and won the Adeline Genée Gold Medal and Prix de Lausanne. She joined the Company in 1992 becoming a Principal by the spring of that Season...
Baroness Mary Vetsera - Mara GaleazziMara GaleazziMara Galeazzi is an internationally recognized ballet dancer, currently a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet in London, England.-Biography:...
Countess Marie Larisch - Gemma BondGemma BondGemma Bond is an English ballet dancer and member of the corps de ballet with American Ballet Theatre .-Biography:Bond was born in Bedfordshire, England. She received her early training in dance at the Sylvia Bebb School of Dance in Bedford, before entering professional training at the Royal...
Princess Stéphanie - Cindy Jourdain Empress Elisabeth
- Laura Morera Mitzi Caspar
- Carlos AcostaCarlos AcostaCarlos Acosta is a Cuban ballet dancer. He has danced with many companies including the English National Ballet, National Ballet of Cuba, Houston Ballet and American Ballet Theatre...
Crown Prince Rudolf - Steven McRae Bratfisch
Tuesday, 10 April, evening
- Alina CojocaruAlina CojocaruAlina Cojocaru is a female principal dancer with The Royal Ballet of London.-Early years:Alina Cojocaru was born and raised in Bucharest, Romania. She has one sister. From a young age she studied gymnastics...
Baroness Mary Vetsera - Johan KobborgJohan KobborgJohan Kobborg is a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London.-Early Life:Johan Kobborg was born in Odense, Denmark into an artistic family; his mother is a former showgirl and actress and his brother is an actor...
Crown Prince Rudolf
Alexandra Ansanelli
Alexandra Ansanelli was a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and at The Royal Ballet, London. She trained at City Ballet's affiliated School of American Ballet before joining NYCB and in 2003 was named one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch"....
Trivia
MacMillan died of a heart attack 29 October 1992, backstage at Covent GardenCovent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
at a revival of Mayerling (the Birmingham Royal Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet is one of the three major ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet....
was dancing his Romeo and Juliet in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
.)