I had wanted to see Elisabeth for years, since I first heard the Vienna recording with Ethan Freeman. But I never really thought it would happen – until the Essen production opened. I still had to get to Germany to see it, but for a chance to see Pia Douwes, and finally see the show on stage, that didn’t seem like so much of an obstacle.
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The show begins with Luigi Lucheni, the man who assassinated Elisabeth, swinging on a rope by his neck and answering the questions of a judge who still wants to know what prompted him to do it. Lucheni replies that it had little to do with him – it was a love affair between Elisabeth and Death. Carsten Lepper is Lucheni in this production and he is really good. I enjoyed his sarcasm and he made me laugh even when I couldn’t understand what he was saying. 🙂 I was a little worried when people told me he was funny in the role, but it’s not farcical or anything, it’s more dark. Also in the scene I really enjoyed the choreography of all the dead people – some of them did it really well!
The next scene transports us back to Elisabeth’s childhood. Her father is preparing to go on a trip and she wishes she could go too – she hates the rigidity of life as a princess. I can’t explain how wonderful it was to see Pia in this role. She just *is* Elisabeth for me. Besides her amazing voice, she is convincing as the teenager at the beginning and equally convincing at each stage of the Empress’ life. |
Also unhappy with the pressures he is facing is the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph. His mother, Sophie, exerts so much influence over him that it is essentially she that runs the country. Michael Lewis was Franz Joseph and I thought he did a fine job. I actually felt that everyone in the cast, down to the smallest role, was well suited for their part.
Another area of Franz Joseph’s life that Sophie is attempting to control is his marriage. Her sister is Elisabeth’s mother, and the two women decide to present Elisabeth’s older sister, Helene, to the emperor in the hopes of making a match. Sisi’s family is celebration this news when Elisabeth falls from a swing and is badly injured.
This is the first time she comes into contact with Death. Uwe Kröger normally plays this part, but he was out that night, so we had an understudy, Jesper Tydén, who usually plays Rudolf. He was great. I had no idea what to expect from him, but he really, really impressed me. He had a great voice, but more than that, it was his facial expressions and the sense of stillness and control he conveyed. He comes to claim Elisabeth after her fall, but just before he kisses her (which is fatal), she wakes up. He is about to leave, but she is enthralled and asks him to stay. Her family interrupts though, and he goes.
Elisabeth, her mother and Helene go to Bad Ischl for a meeting with Sophie and Franz Joseph. He is immediately taken – but with Elisabeth, not Helene. I loved Pia’s face when, after not paying any attention to anything except the sash of her dress, she looks up to see Franz Joseph standing in front of her. It was perfect! Though the mothers are dismayed, Franz Joseph has made up his mind and he and Elisabeth are to be married.
At the wedding dance, Death appears to Elisabeth. He is not pleased with this new love in her life. She may be with Franz Joseph now, but he reminds her that the last dance will belong to him.
The newlywed’s happiness is short-lived. Elisabeth can’t stand the courtiers who are always watching them, nor the strict control of her mother-in-law. She appeals to Franz Joseph for help, but he replies that his mother is merely trying to help. Frustrated, Elisabeth asserts her independence in the beautiful “Ich gehör nur mir”. Seeing Pia sing this song live was like a dream – and she did is perfectly. It was flawless. She is so amazing!
Soon the royal couple have their first child – but it is a girl. Sophie refuses to let Elisabeth raise her child, and again Franz Joseph concedes to his mother. Another girl follows and finally a boy. The political situation is getting ugly, and the country goes to war.
Elisabeth is more concerned with her personal problems though. She is kept away from her son Rudolf and feels terribly alone. When Franz Joseph comes to her at night, asking for comfort from the pressures of the day, she delivers an ultimatum to him – he must either choose her or his mother. She will not be dependent on him – or anyone, even Death.
The people of Vienna are growing desperate because of a shortage of milk. When it becomes known that Elisabeth is using it for her beauty baths, Lucheni attempts to direct popular discontent towards her. But the Emperor still loves her, and he accepts her ultimatum. He tells her that he is hers, while she emphasizes that she is still loyal primarily to herself.
| As Act Two begins, Lucheni enters with a tray full of royal “souvenirs” – or, as he more eloquently puts it, “kitsch”. A tip for anyone out there who might be interested in getting one of the postcards he gives away in this scene: it doesn’t help to put your hand out and ask for it. He purposely didn’t give any to the people who did that. 🙂
The next scene was a new song that was added to this production and has quickly become my favourite song in the show. Sung by Elisabeth and Death, it was a joy to see these two actors perform it. Elisabeth is intent that it will be her decision when she will go with him. The next scene was just a little odd. Sophie and her advisors discuss how Elisabeth’s influence over Franz Joseph can be undermined – but while so doing, they prance about (literally) as horses on a giant chess board. Yes. They looked that ridiculous. |
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Rudolf wakes up one night crying for his mother, but she is not there. Instead he makes a new friend, someone who will always be there for him – it is Death.
We go then to a local “house of ill repute”, where one of the Emperor’s advisors is picking out a girl. It turns out that she is for the emperor. Lucheni alleges that the girl in question is infected with a venereal disease. When Elisabeth has another accident while exercising in her gym, Death comes to her and tells her that Franz Joseph has infected her. Still she will not give in to him, and uses this to gain further independence from the court.
Sophie is growing older (she enters using a cane – perhaps all that prancing about was bad for her?), and Franz Joseph finally stands up to her and takes control for himself. But by this time Elisabeth is gone, on longer and longer journeys.
There was a scene with Elisabeth in a mental hospital that I have to admit I just did not understand. But Caryl wrote me and explained it for me. Thank you! 🙂 Apparently, after the death of Elisabeth’s cousin Ludwig, she became worried that she also suffered from mental illness, and frequently visited mental hospitals. On this particular occasion, she encounters a young woman who is convinced that she is the real Empress.
Rudolf grows up and, like his mother, rebels against the pressures of his life. Death persuades him to oppose his father, which doesn’t go over well with Franz Joseph. Rudolf feels more and more trapped, with no one to comfort him but his old friend Death. In a moment of desperation, he reaches out to Elisabeth, but she pushes him away – she will not go back to begging to her husband. Utterly alone, Rudolf takes the revolver that Death offers him and accepts his kiss.
Elisabeth is distraught about Rudolf’s suicide. She can’t bring herself to leave his grave, and when Death appears she begs him to take her as well. But his pride has been hurt by her previous rejections, and this time it is he who sends her away.
Elisabeth and Franz Joseph, briefly united by their grief for their son, must now come to terms with how far apart they’ve grown. Elisabeth again goes travelling. Franz Joseph has a nightmare about the fall of the Hapsburgs, and is confronted by his rival for Elisabeth, Death. He tries to save Elisabeth, but Death reaches her first, providing Lucheni with the muder weapon. Lucheni stabs her and this time there is no fight. She embraces Death, and he kisses her at last. The look on Jesper’s face when she put her arms around him and he knew she would finally be his, was so great. I loved it, and I loved the whole show. I wish I could see it again!!
The cast:
Elisabeth, Empress of Austria
PIA DOUWES
Death, Elisabeth’s Lover
JESPER TYDÉN
Luigi Lucheni, Elisabeth’s Assassin
CARSTEN LEPPER
Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria, Elisabeth’s Husband
MICHAEL LEWIS
Princess Sophie, Elisabeth’s mother-in-law
GABRIELE RAMM
Prince Rudolf, Elisabeth’s son
SVEN OLAF DENKINGER
Ludovika, Elisabeth’s mother/Frau Wolf
PETRA MADITA KÜBITZ
Max in Bayern, Elisabeth’s father
CLAUS DAM
Gräfin Esterházy-Liechtenstein/Ensemble
JULIANA ALBRECHT
Helene von Wittelsbach, Elisabeth’s sister/Ensemble
RHODA KOSTEN
Kardinalerzbischof Rauscher, Hofkamarilla/Ensemble
MARCEL MEYER
Graf Grünne, Hofkamarilla/Ensemble
FRANK LOGEMANN
Fürst zu Schwarzenberg, Hofkamarilla/Ensemble
DETLEF LEISTENSCHNEIDER
Baron Hübner, Hofkamarilla/Ensemble
SASCHA OSKAR WEIS
Baron Kempen, Hofkamarilla/Ensemble
BRADY SWENSON
Fräulein Windisch, eine Irre/Ensemble
ANJA MATTNER
Graf Andrássy,Ungarischer Magnat/Ensemble
TIM REICHWEIN
Elemer Batthyány, Ungarischer Magnat/Ensemble
NOUD HELL
Stephen Károlyi, Ungarischer Magnat/Ensemble
LUCIUS WOLTER
Gouvernante/Ensemble
SABINE MARIE REIβ
A Mother/Ensemble
MIRJAM ZIPF
Gräffin Sztáray/Ensemble
NATHALIE KLEEBERGER
Elisabeths Friseuse/Ensemble
LILIAN MARTI
Totentänzer
SABINE MERKEL
SARA RYMER
JO SHANKS
MARKUS GIESS
CHRISTIAN TSCHINDER
CHI-LIANG SHIH
Child Rudolf
KAJ BINDER
Dirigent
EDWIN PRÖM