THE ROYAL BALLET
Director
Founder
Founder Choreographer
Founder Music Director
Prima Ballerina Assoluta
The Royal Ballet dedicates this Season’s performances to the memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Generous philanthropic support from Julia and Hans Rausing, Aud Jebsen, Doug and Ceri King, John and Susan Burns OBE, Sir Lloyd and Lady Dorfman, the Paul Ferguson Memorial Fund and the Fonteyn Circle.
The 2022/23 Royal Ballet Season is generously supported by Aud Jebsen
Mayerling
Ballet in Three Acts
29.11.2022 19:30
APPROXIMATE TIMINGS
GUIDANCE
This production contains depictions of drug use, sexual violence and suicide. There are gunshots in each act.
CREDITS
CAST
Guests, chambermaids, whores, gentlemen, servants, ladies-in-waiting Artists of The Royal Ballet
Students of The Royal Ballet School appear by kind permission of the Artistic Director Christopher Powney
SYNOPSIS
ACT I
Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary is emotionally unstable and haunted by his obsession with death. For political reasons, he is forced to marry Princess Stephanie. At the celebratory ball, he behaves badly towards her, flirting with Princess Louise. Marie Larisch tries to revive her affair with Rudolf. He visits his mother, the Empress, in her apartments and attempts to engage her sympathies. He then forces himself on Stephanie, terrifying her with a revolver.
Interval
ACT II
A visit to a notorious tavern is interrupted by a police raid. Mitzi Caspar betrays Rudolf’s presence to the Prime Minister. Marie Larisch introduces him to a new mistress, Mary Vetsera, a young woman who shares his morbid fascination. Marie Larisch encourages the relationship on both sides, conveying a letter from Mary to Rudolf at a birthday party for the Emperor. Rudolf and Mary meet in secret.
Interval
ACT III
At a shoot in the countryside, Rudolf kills a courtier and almost wounds the Emperor. Back in his apartments, Rudolf asks Mary to die with him.At the hunting lodge Mayerling, Rudolf is drinking with friends. When they leave, Mary arrives. She and Rudolf form a suicide pact. They make love before Rudolf shoots first Mary and then himself. The royal family covers up the tragedy.
THE ROYAL BALLET
Music Director
Resident Choreographer
Artistic Associate
Administrative Director
Rehearsal Director
Clinical Director Ballet Healthcare
DIGITAL CAST SHEETS
We are working to make the Royal Opera House more sustainable. To do this, some of the ways in which we share information have changed, including cast sheets.
You can view the digital cast sheets on a computer, tablet or smartphone. You can also download and print the digital cast sheet. Check the digital cast sheet for the most up-to-date information before the performance starts, during the interval, or after the performance day.
Scan the QR codes displayed around the building with a smartphone to view the latest digital cast sheets. The cast sheets are also displayed on screens outside the auditoria.
Cast sheets generously supported by the Royal Opera House Endowment Fund.
GUIDELINES
Photography and filming are prohibited during performances in any of our auditoriums. You are welcome to take pictures throughout the rest of the building and before performances and share them with us through social media. Commercial photography and filming must be agreed in advance with our press team.
Larger bags and backpacks need to be check into our complimentary cloakrooms. Unattended bags may be removed.
Please do not place any personal belongings on the ledges in front of you.
Only bottled water and ice cream purchased from the premises can be taken into the auditorium.
If you arrive late to the auditorium or leave during a performance, you will not be allowed back to your seat until the interval or a suitable break.
Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the premises.
The safety of our visitors, staff and artists is still our priority. There are hand sanitiser stations throughout the building. To help us provide a comfortable experience for everyone, please be mindful of others and their personal space.
Our staff are committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect and we ask that you show them and your fellow audience members respect too. We adopt a zero-tolerance approach in response to anyone who interacts with our staff or with fellow audience members in an intimidating, aggressive or threatening manner.
SUPPORT OUR ONGOING RECOVERY
We are so glad to welcome our artists back to our theatres to perform for you the opera and ballet you love. During the pandemic we lost £3 in every £5 of our income and we continue to feel the impact as we recover. Sustaining the future of ballet and opera has never been so important. Please consider making a donation to the Royal Opera House community today and help support the future of ballet and opera.