"Mayerling"-at the Opera House, Vienna

"Mayerling" is the story of Crown Prince Rudolph and his demise told through ballet and music. The performance details the many sordid tales of the Habsburgs next in line to the throne. Mayerling is a hunting lodge in the Vienna Woods where the family retreated for recreation. Today, the Mayerling is a ballet that is seen around the world and has also been made into a movie which stars Omar Sharif. The performance I visited was among the best performances I have ever seen.

The Oper House itself is an historic structure which was partially destroyed in the later years of World War II. Interestingly the Staatsoper or Opera House was one of the first structures rebuilt following the war showing the cultural importance of the Staatsoper.