So last night the royal ballets first couple, at shockingly short notice, gave their last performance with the company, in macmillans mayerling, a terrifying, piteous experience that i know ill never see surpassed. Join dancers of the royal ballet as they rehearse their 201819 season opener, kenneth macmillans mayerling. What did you think of the royal ballet s mayerling. In kenneth macmillans 1978 ballet mayerling, guntoting dancers, teetering on the edge of sanity, set the tone. Opening a run of mayerling performances this evening at the royal opera house sees edward watson in the role hes come to dominate, prince rudolf. See more ideas about ballet, roberto bolle and svetlana zakharova.
Sergei polunin, who famously defected from the royal ballet just over a year ago, has found a home at the stanislavsky theatre, and fame through winning a television dance competition. Houston ballets mayerling pbs promo the incident youtube. This dark and intense ballet was created for the royal ballet in 1978 and is regarded by many as among kenneth macmillans finest works. The first cast may hold the companys biggest names, but the drive, emotion and superb characterisation from this cast of dancers makes for a. This dark and intense ballet was created for the royal ballet in 1978 and is. Mayerling was first produced for the royal ballet in 1978, by the british choreographer sir kenneth macmillan, with a scenario written by gillian freeman, scenery and costume designs by nicholas georgiadis and lighting design by david hersey. A convincing vortex of lust and insanity mayerling. Music for the ballet was compiled from existing works by franz liszt, arranged and orchestrated by john lanchbery who also conducted.
For sure but i dont think anyone is suggesting otherwise. The royal ballet, mayerling, royal opera house 08 oct 18 30 oct 18, 19. Edward watson as rudolf and sarah lamb as marie larisch in. The royal ballet is on mighty form in kenneth macmillans mayerling, delineating the late choreographers dark vision of lust, morphine and mental instability with exquisite panache.
Join the royal ballet this winter for a feast of dance. The royal ballet presents a stellar cast in kenneth macmillans daring and powerful ballet, filmed in 1994, with john lanchberys sumptuous. Mara galeazzi june, relayed on bp big screens and leanne herself 15 june. From july 57, the company presents sir kenneth macmillans mayerling, based on the true story of the 1889 deaths of crown prince rudolf and his teenage mistress. The royal ballets dark and dangerous mayerling screened live to cinemas the thrilling ballet mayerling will be broadcast live from the royal opera house in londons worldfamous covent garden to uk cinemas on monday 15 october 2018.
For all the latest on birmingham royal ballets response to the ongoing covid19 outbreak, please visit our dedicated page for updates. December 22 marks a run at the miami arsht center, and december 2729 the ballet makes its way to the kravis center in west palm beach orlando ballets the nutcracker, with live music by florida symphony youth orchestras, hits the dr. It is also a prized possession in the royal ballets repertoire, here enjoying its 4th performance at the royal opera house, since its world premiere, on 14 february 1978 and i doubt that there could ever have been a more inappropriate ballet for valentines day. From its tense opening this work is already running to its dramatic conclusion and, in the hands of this cast, the royal ballet deliver a sensitive and passionate portrayal of the mayerling tragedy. Mayerling, choreographed by kenneth macmillan romeo and juliet and performed by the royal ballet, tells the story of the tragic love affair between the mentallyill crown prince rudolf of austriahungary and his 17yearold mistress mary vetsera, which ended in a murdersuicide at the royal lodge of mayerling on january 30, 1889. The sunday express mayerling one of the very best seasonal treats for children and adults alike, the royal ballets nutcracker is a handsome, magical, thoroughly traditional rendering of eta hoffmanns immortal if deeply strange story. Stanislavsky and nemirovichdanchenko moscow music theatre crown prince rudolf igor zelensky, mary vetsera anna ol, countess marie larisch anastasia pershenkova, mitzi caspar oksana.
The ballet captures the glamour of the austrohungarian court and the mental torments of crown prince rudolf, heir to the habsburg throne. The gerald ronson family foundation, the royal opera house endowment fund and an anonymous donor. Royal ballet mayerling royal opera house londondance. Available from august 2019 mayerling is based on the true story of the deaths of crown prince rudolf and his teenage mistress vetsera in. By chris shipman head of brand engagement and social media 9 october 2018 at 11. Everything, the dancing, the stage, the lighting, all are superb. Last sunday night 15th march it was wonderful to settle down and watch the incredible ballet mayerling danced and acted impeccably by the fabulous royal ballet.
Sarah lamb and steven mcrae in rubies from jewels, the royal ballet. Fourteen years later, macmillan collapsed and died, alone, backstage during the first night of mayerlings revival with. The 49 best ballet videos ballet, royal ballet, dance. The performance lasts approximately 2 hours including one 20minute interval. The royal ballet, mayerling at covent garden culture whisper. See more ideas about ballet, royal ballet and dance. Mayerling 28 september osipova watson royal ballet. Mary vetsera is played by natalia osipova, countess. The nutcracker sugar plum prince variation vadim muntagirov of the royal ballet. The royal ballets revival of kenneth macmillans 1978 threeact mayerling transforms humble old ballet into great theatre. When i saw the ballet way back when, i rememberall the samebeing very excited to see the new young ballerina dancing vetsera that everyone was talking about.
Concertoenigma variations raymonda act iii live in cinemas tuesday 5 november. Mayerling opens tonight at the royal ballet heres a. Kenneth macmillan choreographed a complex work around the psychologically tormented heir to the habsburg empire, crown prince rudolf. Mayerling, the royal ballet, royal opera house, london when it comes to exploring the darkest corners of the psyche through ballet. Steven mcrae as crown prince rudolf in mayerling, the royal ballet. Central to the impact of this melodrama of sex, high society and. Mayerling is based on the historical events culminating in the much romanticized and mysterious murdersuicide of austrias crown prince rudolf and his mistress.
Mayerling mayerling is a classic of the royal ballet repertory, with its emotional depth, haunting imagery, and one of the most demanding roles ever created for a male dancer. Known as the mayerling incident this chapter of history is forever. It stars irek mukhamedov, viviana durante, lesley collier, darcey bussell, orchestra of the royal opera house and conductor barry wordsworth. Kenneth macmillans mayerling was filmed and screened live in.
The royal ballet have over the years honed the nutcracker to perfection. Alessandra ferri an acquaintance traveling europe recently contacted me to ask if she should try to get to london to see the royal dance mayerling her dates would permit. Settling down after his semibreakdown, he is demonstrating the value of the royal ballet school and company by returning to partner tamara rojo in her farewell performances at covent. The nutcracker in rehearsal 2017 the royal ballet by royal opera house. Tickets are selling fast for our 2018 performances of nutcracker so book now for the best choice of seats and widest range of concessions. Florida miami city ballet presents george balanchines the nutcracker, featuring designs by isabel and ruben toledo, at two different theaters. Johan kobborg and alina cojocaru have blessed this millennium, both artists who used the lightness of their natural physical abilities to tear into dark emotional places. Steven mcrae as oberon in the dream, the royal ballet. Winter ballet season live from the royal opera house. The cast is headed by edward watson as the deathobsessed crown prince rudolf of the hapsburg imperial dynasty and mara galeazzi as his partner in death, the court groupie. Sarah lamb and steven mcrae of the royal ballet rehearse mayerling world ballet day 2018. The ballet tells the story of the crown prince rudolf of austriahungary and the events that led to a murdersuicide pact with his teenage mistress mary vetsera at the royal hunting lodge, mayerling, in 1889. Alice pennefathers latest rehearsal gallery covers the royal ballets revival of macmillans mayerling. With choreography by scottish ballet founder peter darrell, and live music played by the scottish ballet orchestra, this everpopular ballet is the perfect christmas treat.
Prior to the royal ballets 1978 premiere of the narratively extravagant vortex of lust and insanity that is mayerling on st valentines day, no less the company nervously sent out synopses. The royal ballet, mayerling, royal opera house culture. The royal ballet, mayerling at covent garden 28 apr 17 may 17, 19. Mayerling is the ballet that draws this out perhaps to its fullest extent with so many solo. The royal ballets dark and dangerous mayerling screened. Edward watson as crown prince rudolf and francesca hayward as princess stephanie. Charlotte macmillan photographed the royal ballets mayerling, with choreography by kenneth macmillan, music by franz liszt, and designs by nicholas georgiadis, which opens at the royal opera house on wednesday. The royal ballets interpretation of franz liszts mayerling arrives on home video in this performance featuring irek mukhamedov, viviana durante, and lesley collier in the lead roles and featuring the orchestra of the royal opera house conducted by barry wordsworth.
Between them, watson and galeazzi have 40 years of services as dancers at the royal ballet she joined in 1992. The dramatic soundscape is matched by macmillans penetrating interpretation of the events surrounding the double suicide of crown prince rudolf of austriahungary and his young. Edward watson and mara galeazzi give an insight into kenneth macmillans dark ballet mayerling. Sergei polunin on bringing mayerling to moscow, and.
This haunting and emotional production reveals the glamour of the austrohungarian court. The royal opens its new season with a nod to the 80th anniversary of kenneth macmillans birth, reviving the choreographers 1978 ballet mayerling. Mayerling ballet by the royal ballet features music by franz liszt and choreography by kenneth macmillan. A day in the life of principal dancer, edward watson, as he prepares for one of ballet s most demanding roles, crown prince rudolf. In these uncertain times it was such a treat to switch off from the everyday depressing reality and be transported to another world and another time. Mayerling is based on the true story of the deaths of crown prince rudolf and his teenage mistress mary vetsera in 1889. Sarah lamb and steven mcrae of the royal ballet rehearse. Mayerling 2018 the royal ballet will kick off the royal opera houses live cinema season with kenneth macmillans haunting psychological ballet mayerling. The royal ballet presents a stellar cast in kenneth macmillans ballet, filmed in 1994 for the bbc, with john lanchberys sumptuous scoring of music by franz liszt. Edward watson preparing for mayerling the royal ballet. Mayerling is a classic of the royal ballet repertory, with its emotional depth, haunting imagery, and one of the most demanding roles ever created for a male dancer.