Mayerling is a ballet choreographed by Kenneth MacMillan to the music of Franz Liszt, arranged by John Lanchbery, scenario by Gillian Freeman and designed by Nicholas Georgiadis.

[1][2] Prologue: The cemetery at Heiligenkreuz before dawn Scene 1: The ballroom at the Hofburg Palace, Vienna A ball to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary and Princess Stephanie of Belgium is in full swing.

Rudolf flirts shamelessly with Stephanie's sister, Princess Louise, offending both his new bride and his parents, Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elisabeth.

Countess Larisch tells Mary's fortune using a pack of cards and informs her that her romantic dreams will come true.

Scene 4: The Hofburg During the Emperor's birthday celebrations Count Taaffe confronts Rudolf over an incriminating political pamphlet on the Hungarian cause.

Following a performance by Schratt and the pianist Alfred Grünfeld, Countess Larisch produces Mary's letter and teases Rudolf with it.

Scene 3: The hunting lodge at Mayerling Rudolf shares a drink with Count Hoyos and Prince Philipp of Coburg, attended by his valet Loschek.

Epilogue: The cemetery at Heiligenkreuz before dawn Mayerling was first produced for the Royal Ballet in 1978, by the British choreographer Sir Kenneth Macmillan, with a scenario written by Gillian Freeman,[3] scenery and costume designs by Nicholas Georgiadis and lighting design by David Hersey.

The Royal Opera House collections have archive information from twelve performances of this ballet, including the premiere and subsequent revivals.

Many reviewers found the ballet overly long and the historical background of the story difficult to follow.

But patience and understanding bring rewards; every scene tells something about Rudolf and the Court of Vienna in his time.

[10] The Paris Opera Ballet was originally scheduled to debut Mayerling in May 2020,[11] but the performances had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

New sets and costumes were designed by Elin Steele, and historian Lucy Coatman was interviewed in the program.

[23] Another DVD, recorded in 2009 and released in 2010, starred Edward Watson as Crown Prince Rudolf and Mara Galeazzi as Baroness Mary Vetsera.

[24] The most recent one, released in 2019, with Steven McRae as Crown Prince Rudolf, Sarah Lamb as Baroness Mary Vetsera, Laura Morera as Countess Marie Larisch, Kristen McNally as Empress Elisabeth, Meaghan Grace Hinkis as Princess Stephanie and Mayara Magri as Mitzi Caspar.

[26] In addition, In light of the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic on the performing arts, Stuttgart Ballet released a recording of a performance online, with Friedemann Vogel as Crown Prince Rudolf, Elisa Badenes as Baroness Mary Versera, Alicia Amatriain as Countess Marie Larisch, Miriam Kacerova as Empress Elisabeth and Adonhay Soares da Silva as Bratfisch.

[27] MacMillan died of a heart attack on 29 October 1992, backstage at Covent Garden at a revival of Mayerling.