Based on a tragic historical love story, Mayerling is itself a classic of the Royal Ballet repertory, with its emotional depth, haunting imagery and one of the most demanding roles ever created for a male dancer.

The glamour of the Austro-Hungarian court contrasts with undercurrents of sexual and political intrigue that drive the story to its dramatic climax.

Utilizing the music of Franz Liszt, choreographer Kenneth MacMillan set his complex ballet around the psychologically tormented heir to the Habsburg Empire, Crown Prince Rudolf, danced with intensity and passion by Steven McRae.