Mayerling

[volcanohunter]

Opus Arte will soon be releasing a performance of MacMillan's Mayerling with the Royal Ballet taped in October 2009. The UK release date is March 1. The North American release typically follows two months later.

Crown Prince Rudolf: Edward Watson

Baroness Mary Vetsera: Mara Galeazzi

Princess Stephanie: Iohna Loots

Emperor Franz Josef: William Tuckett

Empress Elisabeth: Cindy Jourdain

Countess Marie Larisch: Sarah Lamb

Baroness Helene Vetsera: Elizabeth McGorian

DVD http://www.opusarte.com/pages/product.asp?ProductID=332

Blu-Ray http://www.opusarte.com/pages/product.asp?ProductID=333

Watson also appears in Wayne McGregor's production of Handel's Acis and Galatea with Lauren Cuthbertson, Steven McRae, Eric Underwood and Paul Kay, set for release the same day.

http://www.opusarte.com/pages/product.asp?ProductID=330

http://www.opusarte.com/pages/product.asp?ProductID=331

[volcanohunter]

The U.S. release date is April 27. Amazon is taking pre-orders.

[GianninaM]

Can't wait!! Thanks for the heads up.

Giannina

[DanceActress]

I recently received my copy of "Mayerling" in the mail from British Amazon!

A couple immediate comments:

The filming and camera work are so much clearer compared to the 1994 recording. I noticed new details with costumes and, more importantly, the camera angles serve the choreography and the theatricality of the ballet. One of my biggest problems with the earlier recording was that the closeups were so tight that I couldn't tell which woman was hurling herself at Prince Rudolf or how!

Edward Watson gives an intense and dangerously exciting performance as Rudolf. He is a vulnerable wreck of a man. His extraordinary long lines and loose physique are perfect for portraying mental and physical agony. But the revelation of this DVD for me, at least on a first viewing, was Cindy Jourdain's Empress Elisabeth. Jourdain is beautiful, haughty, distant, and guilty- her Act I pas de deux with Rudolf shows the ravages of a guilty mother. I'm not fortunate enough to see the Royal Ballet in person with regularity and I'd never heard of Jourdain. I would love to see more of her!

[Azulynn]

Unfortunately, Cindy Jourdain, who does look really stunning on the Mayerling DVD, left The Royal Ballet in January. No word on her future plans, but maybe someone here will know more.

[leonid17]

Unfortunately, Cindy Jourdain, who does look really stunning on the Mayerling DVD, left The Royal Ballet in January. No word on her future plans, but maybe someone here will know more.

I understand that she left the RB on 23 January with the intention of freelancing. As the Empress, Miss Jourdain was widely admired as giving an outstanding performance.

[DanceActress]

Unfortunately, Cindy Jourdain, who does look really stunning on the Mayerling DVD, left The Royal Ballet in January. No word on her future plans, but maybe someone here will know more.

Unfortunately, Cindy Jourdain, who does look really stunning on the Mayerling DVD, left The Royal Ballet in January. No word on her future plans, but maybe someone here will know more.

I understand that she left the RB on 23 January with the intention of freelancing. As the Empress, Miss Jourdain was widely admired as giving an outstanding performance.

What a shame! Well, maybe London's loss will be New York's gain I would definitely seek out Cindy Jourdain's future performances.

Another standout from this recording is Sarah Lamb's Countess Larisch. The countess is my favorite character in the ballet because of her ambiguity. Is she in love with Rudolf and will do anything to stay in his life? Or is she only concerned about maintaining her position in the court? Sarah Lamb's interpretation seems to fall somewhere in the middle- she's a social climber with a heart.