My Behind the Ballet series is back! If you are newer to the blog, this series takes you behind the ballets that you see on stage. More often than not, I hear from people that they either don’t know what is happening on the stage, or what “they should look for”. I aim to give you the background of the ballet so that you can enjoy it! And given that we are approaching the anniversary of the Mayerling incident, this seems a great time to turn to one of the most popular modern ballets, Mayerling. Welcome to Behind the Ballet: Mayerling– I hope you enjoy!
Mayerling Synposis
From the Royal Ballet Collection Notes and Synposes,
Prologue
The cemetery at Helligenkreuz before dawn
Act I
Scene 1: The ballroom at the Hofburg, Vienna
At the ball to celebrate his wedding to Princess Stephanie of Belgium, Crown Prince Rudolf offends his parents and bride by flirting openly with Princess Louise. Left alone, Rudolf meets Countess Larisch and Baroness Vetsera, who introduces her young daughter, Mary. They are interrupted by four Hungarian officers, friends of Rudolf, who forcefully plead the separatist cause of their country. Countess Larisch returns and tries to revive the intimacy of her past relationship with Rudolf. The Emperor discovers them and angrily orders Rudolf to return to his wife.
Scene 2: The Empress’s apartments at the Hofburg
Empress Elisabeth has retired from the ball and is enjoying the company of her ladies-in-waiting. Rudolf visits her before going to his bride. He is unhappy at his enforced marriage and attempts to engage the Empress’s sympathy.
Scene 3: Rudolf’s Apartments at the Hofburg
Stephanie is prepared for the wedding night. Rudolf finds her alone and, before making love to her, terrifies her with a revolver.
Act II
Scene 1: A notorious tavern
Accompanied by Bratfisch, Rudolf and Stephanie arrive at the tavern in disguise. Seeing that Stephanie is unhappy, Bratfisch does his best to amuse her. The whores are resentful and try to recapture the attention of their clients; Stephanie leaves in disgust. Rudolf devotes his attention to his mistress, Mitzi Caspar, and to his Hungarian friends. There is a police raid, during which Rudolf, Mitzi, and the Hungarian officers hide. Arrests are made and the police leave. In a mood of despair brought about by the constant surveillance, Rudolf suggests to Mitzi that they should commit suicide together. The Prime Minister Count Taafe enters, having been informed that Rudolf is in the tavern. Rudolf again conceals himself, but Mitzi indicates his presence to the Count, with whom she departs.
Scene 2: Outside the tavern
As Rudolf leaves his friends, Countess Larisch, aware of his identity, contrives to present Mary Vetsera, whom she is ostensibly chaperoning.
Scene 3: The Vetsera home
Countess Larisch calls on her friend, Baroness Vetsera, and finds Mary absorbed by a portrait of Rudolf. She takes a pack of cards and tells Mary’s fortune, assuring her that her romantic dreams will come true. Mary gives her a letter for Rudolf.
Scene 4: The Hofburg
During Franz Josef’s birthday celebration Count Taafe confronts Rudolf with a political pamphlet. At the same time ‘Bay’ Middleton offers the Prime Minister a joke cigar, greatly amusing Rudolf. Elisabeth presents the Emperor with a portrait of his ‘friend’, Katharina Schratt. A firework display diverts everyone except Elisabeth and ‘Bay’. Rudolf observes their amorous exchange and is bitterly resentful. The resumption of the fireworks vies Countess Larisch the opportunity to tease Rudolf with Mary’s letter.
Scene 5: Rudolf’s apartments at the Hofburg
Mary and Rudolf meet in secret for the first time.
Act III
Scene 1: Countryside: a royal shoot
The pleasant day is shattered when Rudolf fires wildly, killing a member of the court and narrowly missing the emperor.
Scene 2: Rudolf’s apartments at the Hofburg
The Empress discovers Countess Larisch with Rudolf and dismisses her, unaware that Mary is waiting outside. Mary joins Rudolf, who asks her to die with him.
Scene 3: The hunting lodge at Mayerling
Rudolf, drinking with Count Hoyos and Prince Philipp, indicates that he is unwell and they leave. Bratfisch arrives with Mary, and Rudolf commands him to entertain them. Bratfisch realises he has lost their attention and withdraws. In a mounting frenzy of passion, Rudolf makes love to Mary. Calming his nerves with an injection of morphine, he embraces her once more then shoots her. Loschek, Hoyos, and Philipp, disturbed by the shot, are reassured by Rudolf who, left alone, shoots himself.
Epilogue
The cemetery at Helligenkreuz before dawn
Kenneth MacMillan and the Royal Ballet
Before we get into the history behind the ballet, we need to start with the ballet itself. MacMillan served as Artistic Director for the Royal Ballet from 1970 to 1977 after decades as a dancer and choreographer. It was a dififcult time for the company, as many were unhappy that Frederick Ashton had been forced out. While he did create a handful of ballets during this time that remain popular (Elite Syncopations comes to mind), he stepped down in 1977 to focus solely on choreography again.
MacMillan created Mayerling in 1978, and actually dedicated the ballet to Ashton. The ballet was fairly popular from its 14 February premiere that year. (Happy Valentine’s Day…?) Mayerling is the perfect example of why I recommend that you always read the synopsis and information in the program before the ballet starts; the main criticism of the ballet was that it had an intricate plot that can be difficult to follow. In spite of this though, it remains popular.
The Mayerling Incident
While Empress Elisabeth, aka Sisi, has become very popular in historical fiction and period dramas over the last few years, I am surprised that her son and the Mayerling incident are not more well-known.
Sisi’s son, Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, led a somewhat difficult life. Obviously, it was a life of immense priviliege but we know that that does not guarantee a stable adult. As heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, his brutal military-based education began at a very young age, where he was most likely abused by his teacher, Leopold Gondrecourt. He was separated from his parents and beloved elder sister for much of the time, and by his teens politically questioned much of what his father, Emperor Franz Joseph I, stood for.
Rudolf married Princess Stephanie of Belgium in 1880 and the couple had one daughter together. The Crown Prince had had many relationships before their marriage and continued to have affairs after they married; he ended up giving Stephanie gonorrhea.
Rudolph had originally asked his mistress, Mitzi, to take her life with him, but she declined. In late 1888, Rudolf was introduced to the young Mary Vetsera who quickly fell in love with the Crown Prince.
On 30 Janaury 1889, Rudolf and Mary were found dead at his Mayerling hunting lodge, both with gunshot wounds. Information emerged that Rudolf killed Mary before then taking his own life. While there are several theories about the exact events that took place, there is no way for us to confirm it.
Why You Should See the Mayerling Ballet
I will fully admit, Mayerling is a dark and oftentimes difficult ballet to watch. I do not know that I would recommend bringing anyone under the age of fifteen or sixteen, because the themes and plot are very adult.
However, MacMillan’s ballet brings to life an immensely complex and heartbreaking moment in history that has largely been forgotten in favour of more “exciting” stories. We do not get a lot of ballets based on historical events; I suspect largely because it is easier to bring a fairytale to life when you don’t need to include very specific details. Mayerling is the perfect example of why more historical events should be staged on the stage, though.
Mayerling has a number of humurous moments, something that I did not expect. And each cast that brings the ballet to life adds something more to this sorrowful tale. This is ballet is one of the best modern story ballets, and I completely understand why audiences keep returning!
Further Readings on Mayerling
If you would like to read more abot the Mayerling incident and those involved, I would recommend starting with Lucy Coatman’s works. Not only is she writing the first English language biography of Mary Vetsera, she has worked with several ballet companies for their own Mayerling productions. (And she is incredibly kind and willing to chat!)
I would also recommend reading Twilight of Empire: The Tragedy at Mayerling and the End of the Hapsburgs by Greg King and Penyn Wilson. Not only does it cover what we know of the incident, it also provides excellent context and background to the situation.
♠
Curious about other ballets? You can read more!
Behind the Ballet: Swan Lake
Behind the Ballet: Giselle
Behind the Ballet: Don Quixote
Behind the Ballet: Sleeping Beauty
Behind the Ballet: La Fille mal gardée
Behind the Ballet: Coppélia
Behind the Ballet: The Nutcracker
Behind the Ballet: The Firebird
Now that you’ve read Behind the Ballet: Mayerling, is it on your to-see list?
Cheers,
The Historian
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
