Mayerling 2018 Press Release
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13TH AUGUST 2018 DANGEROUS DESIRES: KENNETH MACMILLAN’S MAYERLING 40th anniversary performances of Kenneth MacMillan’s signature ballet created in 1978 Royal Ballet Principal Ryoichi Hirano to make his debut as Crown Prince Rudolf Kenneth MacMillan’s darkly dramatic masterpiece, Mayerling, opens The Royal Ballet’s 2018/19 Season. Featuring one of the most technically demanding male roles in classical ballet, Mayerling is based on the true story of the deaths of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria and his teenage mistress Mary Vetsera which shocked the world in 1889. Kevin O’Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet, says: “Regarded as one of Kenneth MacMillan’s finest works, Mayerling has been an integral part of The Royal Ballet’s repertory since its premiere in 1978. Its dark, brooding story is as resonant now as when created 40 years ago.” Royal Ballet Principal Ryoichi Hirano will make his debut in the role of Crown Prince Rudolf while newly-promoted First Soloists Fumi Kaneko and Mayara Magri will dance the role of Mitzi Caspar for the first time. Other debuts include For all Royal Opera House press releases visit www.roh.org.uk/press First Soloist Tierney Heap and First Artist Nathalie Harrison as Empress Elisabeth and First Soloist Marcelino Sambé as Bratfisch. Former Royal Ballet Principal Leanne Benjamin, who danced the role of Mary Vetsera for many years with the Company, will return to the Royal Opera House to coach the lead female roles. Designs by MacMillan’s long-time collaborator Nicholas Georgiadis bring the opulence of the Austro-Hungarian court to life while the sweeping score is an arrangement of Franz Liszt’s music by John Lanchbery. The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling will be shown in UK cinemas on 15 October 2018 with an encore screening on 21 October 2018. Mayerling will also be broadcast in cinemas around the world. Further details on dates and venues available here. Generous philanthropic support from the Gerald Ronson Family Foundation, John and Susan Burns and The Royal Opera House Endowment Fund. This production contains scenes of an adult nature, which may not be suitable for children under 12 years of age. Audience discretion is therefore advised. NOTES TO EDITORS: MAYERLING Monday 8 – Tuesday 20 October 2018 Royal Opera House, London, WC2E 9DD Tickets £4 - £110 roh.org.uk ROH Live Cinema Relay – Monday 15 October at 7.15pm PERFORMANCE DATES 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 25, 27, 30 October at 7.30pm 13 October at 1.30pm 13, 20 October at 7pm The performance lasts about three hours, including two intervals. Page 2 of 8 Click here for production images. Please credit as captioned. CASTING 8, 13 (eve), 19 (eve) October Crown Prince Rudolf Edward Watson Baroness Mary Vetsera Natalia Osipova Countess Marie Larisch Sarah Lamb Empress Elisabeth Kristen McNally Princess Stephanie Francesca Hayward Mitzi Caspar Marianela Nuñez Bratfisch Alexander Campbell Emperor Franz Josef Christopher Saunders Colonel ‘Bay’ Middleton Gary Avis 10, 15 (Live Cinema Relay), 27 October Crown Prince Rudolf Steven McRae Baroness Mary Vetsera Sarah Lamb Countess Marie Larisch Laura Morera Empress Elisabeth Kristen McNally Princess Stephanie Meaghan Grace Hinkis Mitzi Caspar Mayara Magri* Bratfisch James Hay Emperor Franz Josef Gary Avis Colonel ‘Bay’ Middleton Nehemiah Kish 12, 17, 22 October Crown Prince Rudolf Thiago Soares Baroness Mary Vetsera Lauren Cuthbertson Countess Marie Larisch Itziar Mendizabal Empress Elisabeth Tierney Heap* Princess Stephanie Yuhui Choe Mitzi Caspar Claire Calvert Bratfisch Marcelino Sambé Emperor Franz Josef Alastair Marriott Colonel ‘Bay’ Middleton Bennet Gartside 13 (mat), 20 October Crown Prince Rudolf Ryoichi Hirano* Baroness Mary Vetsera Melissa Hamilton Countess Marie Larisch Olivia Cowley Empress Elisabeth Nathalie Harrison* Princess Stephanie Elizabeth Harrod Mitzi Caspar Fumi Kaneko* Bratfisch Paul Kay Emperor Franz Josef Christopher Saunders Colonel ‘Bay’ Middleton Gary Avis 25, 30 October Crown Prince Rudolf Federico Bonelli Baroness Mary Vetsera Laura Morera Page 3 of 8 Countess Marie Larisch Hikaru Kokbayashi Empress Elisabeth Tierney Heap Princess Stephanie Emma Maguire Mitzi Caspar Beatriz Stix-Brunell Bratfisch Tristan Dyer Emperor Franz Josef Thomas Whitehead Colonel ‘Bay’ Middleton Bennet Gartside *Role debut Choreography Kenneth MacMillan Music Franz Liszt Arrangement and orchestration John Lanchbery Designer Nicholas Georgiadis Scenario Gillian Freeman Lighting designer John B. Read Conductor Koen Kessels (8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20 October) Paul Murphy (22, 25, 27, 30 October) Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (10, 12, 13, 15, 25, 27, 30 October) Royal Ballet Sinfonia (8, 17, 19, 20, 22 October) Image credits from left to right: Mayerling. Edward Watson as Prince Rudolf and Sarah Lamb as Countess Marie Larisch. © ROH, 2017. Photographed by Alice Pennefather. Mayerling. Steven McRae as Prince Rudolf. © ROH, 2017. Photographed by Alice Pennefather. KENNETH MACMILLAN Kenneth MacMillan (1929-92) was one of the leading choreographers of his generation. His close association with The Royal Ballet began when he joined Sadler’s Wells School (now The Royal Ballet School) aged 15. He was Director of the Company 1970-77 and Principal Choreographer 1977-92. His ballets are distinguished by their psychological insight and expressive use of classical language. These qualities are demonstrated in his many works for the Company, which include Romeo and Juliet, Gloria, Manon, Mayerling and Requiem. Page 4 of 8 LEANNE BENJAMIN Australian dancer Leanne Benjamin is a former Principal of The Royal Ballet. She joined The Royal Ballet School at the age of 16 and graduated into Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet (later Birmingham Royal Ballet) in 1983. In 1992 she joined The Royal Ballet as a First Soloist and was promoted to Principal at the end of her first Season. Benjamin retired at the end of the 2012/13 Season, after 20 years as a Principal with The Royal Ballet. In 2005 she received an OBE in recognition of her services to dance. RYOICHI HIRANO Japanese dancer Ryoichi Hirano is a Principal of The Royal Ballet. He joined the Company as a Prix de Lausanne apprentice in 2001 and became an Artist in 2002, promoted to First Artist in 2007, Soloist in 2008, First Soloist in 2012 and Principal in 2016. His repertory with The Royal Ballet includes Albrecht (Giselle), Prince Florimund (The Sleeping Beauty), Prince Siegfried (Swan Lake), Lescaut (Manon), Leontes and Polixenes (The Winter’s Tale), Espada and Gamache (Don Quixote), Tybalt and Paris (Romeo and Juliet), Prince Gremin (Onegin), Jean de Brienne (Raymonda Act III), Colonel ‘Bay’ Middleton and lead Hungarian Officer (Mayerling), Prince (The Prince of the Pagodas, The Nutcracker), Rasputin and Officer (Anastasia), Witch (Hansel and Gretel), Robert Wood (Sweet Violets), Black Knight (Checkmate), Dr Samuel-Jean Pozzi (Strapless), Soldier (Different Drummer), Human (‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café), Fate (Acosta’s Carmen), Creature (Frankenstein). Hirano’s role creations for the Company include in Wayne McGregor’s Infra and Obsidian Tear and Christopher Wheeldon’s Corybantic Games. Awards include the 2001 Prix de Lausanne Gold Medal. STEVEN McRAE Australian dancer Steven McRae is a Principal of The Royal Ballet. He joined The Royal Ballet School on a Prix de Lausanne scholarship in 2003, graduating into Company in 2004. He was promoted to First Artist in 2005, Soloist in 2006, First Soloist in 2008 and Principal in 2009. His roles with The Royal Ballet include all the classical repertory and leading roles in works by choreographers including Frederick Ashton, David Bintley, William Forsythe, Kenneth MacMillan, Alastair Marriott, Wayne McGregor, Liam Scarlett and Christopher Wheeldon. His role creations include Magician/Mad Hatter (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland), Jack (Sweet Violets), Sandman (Hansel and Gretel), Florizel (The Winter’s Tale), Emble (The Age of Anxiety), Creature (Frankenstein) and roles in Three Songs – Two Voices, Children of Adam, Chroma, Acis and Galatea (Royal Opera), 24 Preludes, The Human Seasons, Tetractys, Connectome, Woolf Works, Multiverse and The Illustrated ‘Farewell’. McRae has performed as a guest artist with companies including American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of Canada, Australian Ballet, Tokyo Ballet and at numerous international galas. His awards include the 2002 Adeline Genée Gold Medal, the 2003 Prix de Lausanne, the 2006 Emerging Male Artist (Classical) and the 2011 Best Male Dancer awards at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards. In 2014 he was named Young Australian Achiever in the UK by the Australia Day Foundation. Page 5 of 8 TIERNEY HEAP English dancer Tierney Heap is a First Soloist of The Royal Ballet. Aged 11 she won a scholarship to study at Elmhurst School for Dance and aged 15 joined The Royal Ballet Upper School. Heap graduated into the Company in 2012, promoted to First Artist in 2016 and to Soloist later that year. She was promoted to First Soloist in 2018. Her repertory with the Company includes Carmen, Lilac Fairy, Florestan’s Sister and Fairy of the Enchanted Garden (The Sleeping Beauty), Mother/Queen of Hearts (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland), Paulina (The Winter’s Tale), Myrtha (Giselle) and roles in The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, ‘Rubies’ (Jewels), DGV: Danse à grande vitesse, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Mayerling, La Bayadère, After the Rain, Multiverse and Carbon Life. She has created roles in Untouchable and Woolf Works. In 2018 she created a role in Christopher Wheeldon’s Corybantic Games and also in Liam Scarlett's Swan Lake as Spanish Woman. Awards while at the The Royal Ballet School include bronze medal at the 2010 Genée International Ballet Competition. FUMI KANEKO Japanese dancer Fumi Kaneko is a First Soloist of The Royal Ballet. She trained at the Jinushi Kaoru Ballet School, Osaka, winning a gold medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition, 2008, and silver medals at the Moscow International Ballet Competition, 2009, and the USA International Ballet Competition, 2010. That year she joined the Jinushi Kaoru Ballet Company, where her roles included Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy (The Nutcracker) and Kitri (Don Quixote).