For the 2024/25 season, Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling returns to the Palais Garnier after a two-year hiatus.
This evening, Germain Louvet portrayed Prince Rudolf with such sorrowful intensity that his performance moved the audience deeply. His elegant movements reflected a romantic yet anguished soul consumed by unfulfilled desires.
Despite the character’s violent behavior towards his wife, Princess Stéphanie (Inès McIntosh), Louvet’s interpretation revealed Rudolf’s psychological torment, creating a tragic complexity that captivated viewers.
Opposite Louvet, Bleuenn Battistoni embodied Baroness Mary Vetsera with poise and elegance, blending youthful innocence with a maturity that hinted at suppressed desires. Her portrayal added depth to the narrative of doomed love.
Mayerling remains a challenging tale. Its depiction of Rudolf’s cruelty sharply contrasts with modern values, requiring audiences to engage critically. While its narrative structure occasionally falters, with an overabundance of secondary characters and a slow first act, the production ultimately finds its rhythm in emotionally charged moments like the first act’s climactic pas de deux.
Despite its flaws, the ballet’s stunning choreography and outstanding performances solidify Mayerling as a masterpiece of modern ballet, brimming with sensuality, unpredictability, and the brilliance of MacMillan’s vision.
(Full text and article available in 2 other languages on Nereid, Elle Rêve)
Commentaires