MAYERLING
Ferenc Liszt / Kenneth MacMillan
-
Act 1
40 min.
-
Intermission
20 min.
-
Act 2
50 min.
-
Intermission
20 min.
-
Act 3
40 min.
-
Act 1
35 min.
-
Intermission
20 min.
-
Act 2
55 min.
-
Intermission
20 min.
-
Act 3
45 min.
Duration: 2 h 55 mins
- See photo: Poster by Adam Żebrowski. Photo of Vladimir Yaroshenko by Łukasz Murgrabia.
- See photo: “Mayerling”. Vladimir Yaroshenko and Chinara Alizade as Crown Prince Rudolf and Mary Vetsera, photo: Ewa Krasucka
- See photo: „Mayerling”. Vladimir Yaroshenko as Crown Prince Rudolf, photo: Ewa Krasucka
- See photo: “Mayerling”. Vladimir Yaroshenko and Chinara Alizade as Crown Prince Rudolf and Mary Vetsera, photo: Ewa Krasucka
- See photo: “Mayerling”. Vladimir Yaroshenko and Chinara Alizade as Crown Prince Rudolf and Mary Vetsera, photo: Ewa Krasucka
- See photo: The Swan Lake poster; Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera; poster photo by Łukasz Murgrabia, poster design by Adam Żebrowski.
- Performance cancelled PREMIERE POSTPONED UNTIL 4 JUNE
- Performance cancelled
- Performance cancelled
- Performance cancelled
- Performance cancelled
- Performance cancelled
Ballet in three acts
Libretto: Gillian Freeman
Music: Franz Liszt
Arrangment and orchestration: John Lanchbery
World premiere: 14 March 1978, Royal Ballet, London
Polish premiere: 4 June 2021, Polish National Ballet, Warsaw
For adults only
To be admitted to an event, every audience member must submit a health declaration online (not earlier than 48 hours before the curtain-up) or in hardcopy (when entering the opera house).
COVID-19 Safety Measures
4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 czerwca 2021
Spotkania wprowadzające z udziałem gości specjalnych
Prowadzenie: Maciej Krawiec
Foyer Główne / 45 minut przed przedstawieniem / Wstęp za okazaniem biletu na spektakl
Goście:
4/06 – Wayne Eagling, realizator baletu
5/06 – Karl Burnett, realizator baletu
6/06 – Anna Lorenc, solistka PBN
8/06 – Dawid Trzensimiech, pierwszy tancerz PBN
9/06 – Simonetta Lysy, asystentka realizatorów
10/06 – Vladimir Yaroshenko, pierwszy tancerz PBN
Stage fright has been a bother for many performers; even the best virtuosos found themselves struggling with it, while some of the greatest talents lost their battle to it. Kenneth MacMillan began his dance career with London’s Sadler’s Wells Ballet. Considered a top prospect, his wings were clipped by stage fright. He retired from the stage becoming an eminent choreographer, creator of ten full-length ballets and over fifty one-act pieces featuring his original choreography. He was chiefly associated with The Royal Ballet, London, where he first served as artistic director, then chief choreographer until his death in 1992.
It was for this company that in 1978 he devised the three-act ballet Mayerling based on one of history’s most puzzling love stories: the affair between Prince Rudolf, son of Emperor Franz Josef I, and teenage Baroness Mary Vetsera. The couple was discovered dead in Rudolf’s hunting cabin, supposedly, after committing a double suicide. There were some, however, who speculated that the heir to the Austro-Hunagrian throne had been murdered. The spicy story inspired a host of films, including Terence Young’s Mayerling starring Omar Sharif and Catherine Deneuve, as well as catching the fancy of journalists and writers.
Drawing inspiration from George Marek’s book The Eagles Die, MacMillan wanted to showcase the compelling love and passion shared by the two aristocrats as well as the social pressures they faced, which – combined with the lack of prospects for their relationship to develop because of monarchistic reasons – could have led the lovers to take the tragic decision. MacMillan set his Mayerling to Franz Liszt’s Faust Symphony and employed Crown Prince Rudolf’s obsession with weaponry and death as the leading motif.
Presented on many of the world’s balletic stages, Mayerling will be performed at the Wielki in Warsaw by the dancers of the Polish National Ballet in a production conducted by Patrick Fournillier.
Time is measured by
Cast
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
- Baroness Mary Vetsera, his mistress
- Countess Marie Larisch, his former mistress
- Princess Stephanie, his wife
- Mitzi Caspar, his regular mistress
-
Rosa Pierro
- Emperor Franz Josef, his father
- Archduchess Sophie, his grandmother
-
Yume Okano
- Bratfisch, his driver and entertainer
- Hungarian Oficer 1.
- Hungarian Oficer 2.
- Hungarian Oficer 3.
- Hungarian Oficer 4.
- Captain „Bay” Middleton, Empress’s lover
- Princess Louise, Stephanie’s sister
- Prince Philipp of Coburg, her husband
- Baroness Helene Vetsera, Mary’s mother
- Count Eduard Taaffe, Prime Minister
- Count Hoyos, Rudolf’s friend
- Loschek, Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch, Countess Marie’s husband
- Katharina Schratt, Emperor’s friend (mezzo-soprano)
- Pianist
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
- Baroness Mary Vetsera, his mistress
- Countess Marie Larisch, his former mistress
- Princess Stephanie, his wife
- Mitzi Caspar, his regular mistress
-
Rosa Pierro
- Emperor Franz Josef, his father
- Archduchess Sophie, his grandmother
-
Yume Okano
- Bratfisch, his driver and entertainer
- Hungarian Oficer 1.
- Hungarian Oficer 2.
- Hungarian Oficer 3.
- Hungarian Oficer 4.
- Captain „Bay” Middleton, Empress’s lover
- Princess Louise, Stephanie’s sister
- Prince Philipp of Coburg, her husband
- Baroness Helene Vetsera, Mary’s mother
- Count Eduard Taaffe, Prime Minister
- Count Hoyos, Rudolf’s friend
- Loschek, Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch, Countess Marie’s husband
- Katharina Schratt, Emperor’s friend (mezzo-soprano)
- Pianist
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
- Baroness Mary Vetsera, his mistress
- Countess Marie Larisch, his former mistress
- Princess Stephanie, his wife
- Mitzi Caspar, his regular mistress
-
Rosa Pierro
- Emperor Franz Josef, his father
- Archduchess Sophie, his grandmother
-
Yume Okano
- Bratfisch, his driver and entertainer
- Hungarian Oficer 1.
- Hungarian Oficer 2.
- Hungarian Oficer 3.
- Hungarian Oficer 4.
- Captain „Bay” Middleton, Empress’s lover
- Princess Louise, Stephanie’s sister
- Prince Philipp of Coburg, her husband
- Baroness Helene Vetsera, Mary’s mother
- Count Eduard Taaffe, Prime Minister
- Count Hoyos, Rudolf’s friend
- Loschek, Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch, Countess Marie’s husband
- Katharina Schratt, Emperor’s friend (mezzo-soprano)
- Pianist
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
- Baroness Mary Vetsera, his mistress
- Countess Marie Larisch, his former mistress
- Princess Stephanie, his wife
- Mitzi Caspar, his regular mistress
-
Rosa Pierro
- Emperor Franz Josef, his father
- Archduchess Sophie, his grandmother
-
Yume Okano
- Bratfisch, his driver and entertainer
- Hungarian Oficer 1.
- Hungarian Oficer 2.
- Hungarian Oficer 3.
- Hungarian Oficer 4.
- Captain „Bay” Middleton, Empress’s lover
- Princess Louise, Stephanie’s sister
- Prince Philipp of Coburg, her husband
- Baroness Helene Vetsera, Mary’s mother
- Count Eduard Taaffe, Prime Minister
- Count Hoyos, Rudolf’s friend
- Loschek, Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch, Countess Marie’s husband
- Katharina Schratt, Emperor’s friend (mezzo-soprano)
- Pianist
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
- Baroness Mary Vetsera, his mistress
- Countess Marie Larisch, his former mistress
- Princess Stephanie, his wife
- Mitzi Caspar, his regular mistress
-
Rosa Pierro
- Emperor Franz Josef, his father
- Archduchess Sophie, his grandmother
-
Yume Okano
- Bratfisch, his driver and entertainer
- Hungarian Oficer 1.
- Hungarian Oficer 2.
- Hungarian Oficer 3.
- Hungarian Oficer 4.
- Captain „Bay” Middleton, Empress’s lover
- Princess Louise, Stephanie’s sister
- Prince Philipp of Coburg, her husband
- Baroness Helene Vetsera, Mary’s mother
- Count Eduard Taaffe, Prime Minister
- Count Hoyos, Rudolf’s friend
- Loschek, Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch, Countess Marie’s husband
- Katharina Schratt, Emperor’s friend (mezzo-soprano)
- Pianist
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
- Baroness Mary Vetsera, his mistress
- Countess Marie Larisch, his former mistress
- Princess Stephanie, his wife
- Mitzi Caspar, his regular mistress
-
Rosa Pierro
- Emperor Franz Josef, his father
- Archduchess Sophie, his grandmother
-
Yume Okano
- Bratfisch, his driver and entertainer
- Hungarian Oficer 1.
- Hungarian Oficer 2.
- Hungarian Oficer 3.
- Hungarian Oficer 4.
- Captain „Bay” Middleton, Empress’s lover
- Princess Louise, Stephanie’s sister
- Prince Philipp of Coburg, her husband
- Baroness Helene Vetsera, Mary’s mother
- Count Eduard Taaffe, Prime Minister
- Count Hoyos, Rudolf’s friend
- Loschek, Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch, Countess Marie’s husband
- Katharina Schratt, Emperor’s friend (mezzo-soprano)
- Pianist
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
- Baroness Mary Vetsera, his mistress
- Countess Marie Larisch, his former mistress
- Princess Stephanie, his wife
- Mitzi Caspar, his regular mistress
-
Rosa Pierro
- Emperor Franz Josef, his father
- Archduchess Sophie, his grandmother
-
Yume Okano
- Bratfisch, his driver and entertainer
- Hungarian Oficer 1.
- Hungarian Oficer 2.
- Hungarian Oficer 3.
- Hungarian Oficer 4.
- Captain „Bay” Middleton, Empress’s lover
- Princess Louise, Stephanie’s sister
- Prince Philipp of Coburg, her husband
- Baroness Helene Vetsera, Mary’s mother
- Count Eduard Taaffe, Prime Minister
- Count Hoyos, Rudolf’s friend
- Loschek, Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch, Countess Marie’s husband
- Katharina Schratt, Emperor’s friend (mezzo-soprano)
- Pianist
-
Mar Bonet Sans
-
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
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- Countess Marie Larisch, his former mistress
-
Yume Okano
-
- Empress Elisabeth, his mother
- Emperor Franz Josef, his father
- Archduchess Sophie, his grandmother
-
Magda Studzińska
- Bratfisch, his driver and entertainer
- Hungarian Oficer 1.
- Hungarian Oficer 2.
-
- Hungarian Oficer 4.
-
Matthieu Quincy
-
Remy Lamping
- Prince Philipp of Coburg, her husband
- Baroness Helene Vetsera, Mary’s mother
-
- Count Eduard Taaffe, Prime Minister
-
Adam Huczka
- Loschek, Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch, Countess Marie’s husband
- Katharina Schratt, Emperor’s friend (mezzo-soprano)
- Pianist
-
Aoi Choji
-
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
- Baroness Mary Vetsera, his mistress
- Countess Marie Larisch, his former mistress
-
Yume Okano
- Mitzi Caspar, his regular mistress
-
- Emperor Franz Josef, his father
- Archduchess Sophie, his grandmother
-
Wiktoria Kotlińska
- Bratfisch, his driver and entertainer
- Hungarian Oficer 1.
- Hungarian Oficer 2.
- Hungarian Oficer 3.
- Hungarian Oficer 4.
- Captain „Bay” Middleton, Empress’s lover
- Princess Louise, Stephanie’s sister
- Prince Philipp of Coburg, her husband
- Baroness Helene Vetsera, Mary’s mother
- Count Eduard Taaffe, Prime Minister
- Count Hoyos, Rudolf’s friend
- Loschek, Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch, Countess Marie’s husband
- Katharina Schratt, Emperor’s friend (mezzo-soprano)
- Pianist
-
Mar Bonet Sans
-
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
- Baroness Mary Vetsera, his mistress
- Countess Marie Larisch, his former mistress
- Princess Stephanie, his wife
- Mitzi Caspar, his regular mistress
-
Rosa Pierro
- Emperor Franz Josef, his father
- Archduchess Sophie, his grandmother
-
Yume Okano
- Bratfisch, his driver and entertainer
- Hungarian Oficer 1.
- Hungarian Oficer 2.
- Hungarian Oficer 3.
- Hungarian Oficer 4.
- Captain „Bay” Middleton, Empress’s lover
- Princess Louise, Stephanie’s sister
- Prince Philipp of Coburg, her husband
- Baroness Helene Vetsera, Mary’s mother
- Count Eduard Taaffe, Prime Minister
- Count Hoyos, Rudolf’s friend
- Loschek, Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch, Countess Marie’s husband
- Katharina Schratt, Emperor’s friend (mezzo-soprano)
- Pianist
-
Mar Bonet Sans
-
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
-
- Countess Marie Larisch, his former mistress
-
Yume Okano
-
- Empress Elisabeth, his mother
- Emperor Franz Josef, his father
- Archduchess Sophie, his grandmother
-
Magda Studzińska
- Bratfisch, his driver and entertainer
- Hungarian Oficer 1.
- Hungarian Oficer 2.
-
- Hungarian Oficer 4.
-
Matthieu Quincy
-
Remy Lamping
- Prince Philipp of Coburg, her husband
- Baroness Helene Vetsera, Mary’s mother
-
- Count Eduard Taaffe, Prime Minister
-
Adam Huczka
- Loschek, Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch, Countess Marie’s husband
- Katharina Schratt, Emperor’s friend (mezzo-soprano)
- Pianist
-
Aoi Choji
-
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
- Baroness Mary Vetsera, his mistress
- Countess Marie Larisch, his former mistress
-
Yume Okano
- Mitzi Caspar, his regular mistress
-
- Emperor Franz Josef, his father
- Archduchess Sophie, his grandmother
-
Wiktoria Kotlińska
- Bratfisch, his driver and entertainer
- Hungarian Oficer 1.
- Hungarian Oficer 2.
- Hungarian Oficer 3.
- Hungarian Oficer 4.
- Captain „Bay” Middleton, Empress’s lover
- Princess Louise, Stephanie’s sister
- Prince Philipp of Coburg, her husband
- Baroness Helene Vetsera, Mary’s mother
- Count Eduard Taaffe, Prime Minister
- Count Hoyos, Rudolf’s friend
- Loschek, Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch, Countess Marie’s husband
- Katharina Schratt, Emperor’s friend (mezzo-soprano)
- Pianist
-
Mar Bonet Sans
-
Credits
- Choreography
-
Grant Coyle
- Conductor
- Set and costume designer
-
John B. Read
- Choreography
-
Grant Coyle
- Conductor
- Set and costume designer
-
John B. Read
- Choreography
-
Grant Coyle
- Conductor
- Set and costume designer
-
John B. Read
- Choreography
-
Grant Coyle
- Conductor
- Set and costume designer
-
John B. Read
- Choreography
-
Grant Coyle
- Conductor
- Set and costume designer
-
John B. Read
- Choreography
-
Grant Coyle
- Conductor
- Set and costume designer
-
John B. Read
- Choreography
- Staging
- Conductor
- Set and costume designer
-
John B. Read
- Choreography
- Staging
- Conductor
- Set and costume designer
-
John B. Read
- Choreography
- Staging
- Conductor
- Set and costume designer
-
John B. Read
- Choreography
- Staging
- Conductor
- Set and costume designer
-
John B. Read
- Choreography
- Staging
- Conductor
- Set and costume designer
-
John B. Read
- Choreography
- Staging
- Conductor
- Set and costume designer
-
John B. Read
Polish National Ballet
Orchestra of the Polish National Opera
Students of the Roman Turczynowicz Ballet School
Extras
Synopsis
-
Introduction
The truth about the double death of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary and the 17-year-old Mary Vetsera has never been established because of an instant court cover-up. Rudolf’s unhappy political marriage to Princess Stephanie of Belgium, his involvement with the Hungarian separatist’s cause, and the oppressive opposition of his father, Emperor Franz Josef, undoubtedly motivated the desperate conclusion at Mayerling. Memoirs and letters reveal that Rudolf was a depraved and often violent prince, and Mary an obsessive girl only too ready to die for the idea of love.
-
PROLOGUE
At the cemetery at Heiligenkreuz before dawn.
-
Act I
At the ball to celebrate his wedding to Princess Stephanie, Crown Prince Rudolf offends his parents and bride by flirting with Princess Louise. Alone, he meets Countess Larisch and Baroness Vetsera, who introduces her daughter, Mary. Four Hungarian officers interrupt, pleading their separatist cause. Countess Larisch tries to revive her past relationship with Rudolf. The Emperor discovers them and orders Rudolf to join his wife. Rudolf first visits his mother, Empress Elizabeth, and attempts to engage her sympathy. At Rudolf’s apartments, Stephanie is prepared for the wedding night. Rudolf forces himself on her, terrifying her with a revolver.
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Act II
At a notorious tavern, Bratfisch tries to entertain Stephanie, but she leaves, disgusted. Rudolf devotes his attention to his mistress, Mitzi Caspar. His Hungarian friends hand out political pamphlets. They hide during a police raid. Despairing, Rudolf suggests to Mitzi they commit suicide together. Prime Minister Taafe comes to remove Rudolf from the tavern. As Rudolf leaves, Countess Larisch presents Mary Vetsera.
Countess Larisch calls on Baroness Vetsera at her house. She tells Mary’s fortune, assuring her that her romantic dreams will come true. Mary gives her a letter for Rudolf.
During Franz Josef’s birthday, Taafe confronts Rudolf with the Hungarian pamphlet. The Empress presents her husband the Emperor with a portrait of his ‘friend’, Katherina Schratt, and Rudolf observes an amorous exchange between the Empress and ‘Bay’. Countess Larisch teases Rudolf with Mary’s letter. Mary and Rudolf meet in secret at Rudolf’s apartments for the first time.
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Act III
At a shoot in the countryside, Rudolf kills a courtier and almost hits the Emperor. The Empress discovers Countess Larisch with Rudolf at his apartments and dismisses her, unaware that Mary is waiting outside. Mary joins Rudolf, who asks her to die with him.
Rudolf, drinking with his friends in the hunting lodge at Mayerling, indicates that he is unwell, and they leave. Bratfisch arrives with Mary and attempts to entertain them. In a passionate frenzy Rudolf makes love to Mary. Calming his nerves with morphine, he embraces her then shoots her. Rudolf’s friends rush in and are expelled by Rudolf who, left alone, shoots himself.
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Epilogue
Return to the cemetery at Heiligenkreuz.
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