Schiller's play depicts only the last two days in the life of Mary, Queen of Scots while the opera spans the period from 1561 to 1587 with the setting moving from France to Scotland and finally to England.

[2] The production was designed by Philastre [Wikidata] and Cambon and directed by Jean Coralli who also choreographed the ballet divertissement for act 3.

[1] The ballet, starring Adèle Dumilâtre, was presented as a performance attended by Mary Stuart at her palace.

[3] After the premiere, Niedermeyer was made a Chevalier (Knight) of the French Legion of Honour, but Marie Stuart had only a modest success.

[4] It remained in the repertoire of the Paris Opera with some cuts to the score until 1846, after which it was largely forgotten.