The Royal Ballet
Kevin O'Hare CBE
Director
Dame Ninette de Valois OM CH DBE
Founder
Sir Frederick Ashton OM CH CBE
Founder Choreographer
Constant Lambert
Founder Music Director
Dame Margot Fonteyn DBE
Prima Ballerina Assoluta
Mayerling
BALLET IN THREE ACTS
Thursday 2 April 2026 7pm
The 175th performance by The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House.
Please note that casting is subject to change up until the start of the performance. Please continue to check the website for the most up-to-date information.
Approximate Timings
The performance lasts approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including two intervals
Act I
40 minutes
Interval
20 minutes
Act II
50 minutes
Interval
20 minutes
Act III
35 minutes
Credits
- 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
Cast
- Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary
William Bracewell
- Baroness Mary Vetsera
Fumi Kaneko
His mistress
- Princess Stephanie
Sae Maeda
His wife
- Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary
Thomas Whitehead
His father
- Empress Elisabeth
Lara Turk
His mother
- Countess Marie Larisch
Leticia Dias
Lady-in-waiting to Elisabeth and ex-mistress of Rudolf
- Baroness Helene Vetsera
Kristen McNally
Mary Vetsera’s mother
- Bratfisch
Joshua Junker
Rudolf’s private cab-driver and entertainer
- Archduchess Sophie
Sian Murphy
Mother of Franz Josef
- Archduchess Sophie
Olga Sabadoch
Mother of Franz Josef
- Mitzi Caspar
Hannah Grennell
A high-class prostitute and Rudolf’s regular mistress
- Colonel 'Bay' Middleton
Francisco Serrano
Elisabeth’s lover
- Four Hungarian Officers
Luca Acri
Lukas B. Brændsrød
Joonhyuk Jun
Harrison Lee
- Katherina Schratt
Catherine Carby
Franz Josef’s friend
- Alfred Grünfeld
Robert Clark
A pianist
- Count Eduard Taafe
Christopher Saunders
Prime Minister of Austria-Hungary
- Count Hoyos
Harris Bell
Friend of Rudolf
- Princess Louise
Yu Hang
Stephanie’s sister
- Prince Philipp of Coburg
Valentino Zucchetti
Her husband and friend of Rudolf
- Princess Gisela
Nadia Mullova-Barley
Rudolf’s elder sister
- Princess Valerie
Charlotte Tonkinson
Rudolf’s younger sister
- Princess Valerie as a Child
Katie Robertson
- Mary Vetsera as a Child
Fumi Kaneko
- Loschek
Amos Child
Rudolf’s valet
- Count Larisch
Aiden O'Brien
- Guests, chambermaids, prostitutes, gentlemen, servants, ladies-in-waiting
Artists of The Royal Ballet
Actors of The Royal Ballet: Rain de Rye Barrett, Jean Pierre Blanchard, Georgia Reid Hamilton, Caroline Jennings, John Long, Kim Mendez, Barbara Rhodes, Olga Sabadoch, Alan Schneider, Damien Lee Stirk, Suleiman Suleiman, Daniel Swan, Peter Taylor, Victoria Taylor, Jeremy Wallis, Tim Webster
Students of The Royal Ballet School appear by kind permission of the Artistic Director, Iain Mackay The Royal Ballet School celebrates 100 years of excellence in 2026.
Music credits
- Conductor
Martin Georgiev
- Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Concert Master
Magnus Johnston
The Royal Ballet
- 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
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. 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.
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. 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.
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.
Guidance
Suitable for ages 14+
This production contains depictions of drug use, sexual violence and suicide. There are gunshots in each act.
Generous support from
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
Further information
Digital Cast Sheets
We are working hard on our commitment towards becoming more sustainable and are striving for our net zero goal of 2035. By using digital cast sheets and e-tickets, we have reduced our paper consumption by over five tonnes per year. You can view our digital cast sheets on a computer, tablet or smartphone by scanning the QR codes displayed around the building using your smartphone’s camera app. They are also displayed on screens outside the auditoria.
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. Mobile phones should be turned off and stored away safely during performances.
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 our priority. 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 Us
We rely on your support to make world-class ballet and opera for everyone. With your donations we can ensure a bright future for the Royal Ballet and Opera, bringing communities together and inspiring future generations up and down the country.
For people, not profit.
rbo.org.uk/donate
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)