Mayerling
Cast sheet
Saturday 4 April 2026
|
7.30pm
Exceptional philanthropic support from Royal Ballet and Opera Principal Julia Rausing Trust
Generous philanthropic support from The Goldhammer Foundation, Sir Lloyd and Lady Dorfman OBE, Ida Levine, Stephen and Dina Lucas, Doug and Ceri King, John and Susan Burns, Royal Ballet and Opera Young Philanthropists and the Royal Opera House Endowment Fund
The 2025/26 Royal Ballet Season is generously supported by Aud Jebsen
Young RBO is generously made possible by Sir Lloyd and Lady Dorfman OBE, Tim and Sarah Bunting, Sir Simon and Lady Robey and The John Browne Foundation
The role of Countess Larisch is supported by Sue Butcher
Approximate timings
Choreography
Kenneth MacMillan
Music
Franz Liszt
Arranged and Orchestrated by
John Lanchbery
Designer
Nicholas Georgiadis
Scenario
Gillian Freeman
Lighting designer
John B. Read
Rehearsal Director
Christopher Saunders
Staging and Artistic Supervisor for the MacMillan Estate
Laura Morera
Staging
Grant Coyle
Senior Répétiteur
Samira Saidi
Répétiteurs
Sian Murphy, Zhan Atymtayev
Principal Coaching
Alexander Adgadzhanov, Leanne Benjamin, Stuart Cassidy, Edward Watson
Benesh Choreologist
Gregory Mislin
Intimacy Consultant
Johannes Stepanek
Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
Matthew Ball
Baroness Mary Vetsera
His mistress
Melissa Hamilton
Princess Stephanie
His wife
Meaghan Grace Hinkis
Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary
His father
Christopher Saunders
Empress Elisabeth
His mother
Kristen McNally
Countess Marie Larisch
Lady-in-waiting to Elisabeth and ex-mistress of Rudolf
Mayara Magri
Baroness Helene Vetsera
Mary Vetsera’s mother
Elizabeth McGorian
Bratfisch
Rudolf’s private cab-driver and entertainer
Luca Acri
Archduchess Sophie
Mother of Franz Josef
Sian Murphy
Mitzi Caspar
A high-class prostitute and Rudolf’s regular mistress
Mariko Sasaki
Colonel 'Bay' Middleton
Elisabeth’s lover
Giacomo Rovero
Four Hungarian Officers
Lukas B. Brændsrød, Harris Bell, Téo Dubreuil, Francisco Serrano
Katherina Schratt
Franz Josef’s friend
Catherine Carby
Alfred Grünfeld
A pianist
Robert Clark
Count Eduard Taafe
Prime Minister of Austria-Hungary
Bennet Gartside
Count Hoyos
Friend of Rudolf
Denilson Almeida
Princess Louise
Stephanie’s sister
Mica Bradbury
Prince Philipp of Coburg
Her husband and friend of Rudolf
Joshua Junker
Princess Gisela
Rudolf’s elder sister
Isabel Lubach
Princess Valerie
Rudolf’s younger sister
Julia Roscoe
Princess Valerie as a Child
Madison Bailey
Mary Vetsera as a Child
Melissa Hamilton
Loschek
Rudolf’s valet
Alejandro Muñoz
Count Larisch
James Hay
Guests, chambermaids, prostitutes, gentlemen, servants, ladies-in-waiting
Artists of The Royal Ballet
Conductor
Martin Georgiev
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Concert Master
Magnus Johnston
Director
Kevin O’Hare CBE
Music Director
Koen Kessels
Resident Choreographer
Sir Wayne McGregor CBE
Artistic Associate
Christopher Wheeldon OBE
Administrative Director
Heather Baxter
Rehearsal Director
Christopher Saunders
Clinical Director Ballet Healthcare
Shane Kelly
Synopsis
Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary is emotionally unstable and haunted by his obsession with death...
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. Countess 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.
A visit to a notorious tavern is interrupted by a police raid. Mitzi Caspar betrays Rudolf’s presence to the Prime Minister. Countess Larisch introduces him to a new mistress, Mary Vetsera, a young woman who shares his morbid fascination. Countess 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.
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.
Further information
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