A few drops of vanilla slowly infused the dough, like the quiet promise of a dream. At that moment, the foundation was ready for the temple to rise, to enter the heat and submit to the quest of Hephaestus.

She follows the wind and takes no notice of frost. She plays, then disappears; only a discreet warmth and a pleasing scent linger behind.

A rustling; a bag crinkled in his hands. Within, a bottle of Jake Daniel’s, a lemon.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, she dances in the evening. A dance bag in her left hand, a water bottle in her right; twenty-five minutes by foot to rue Varenne, then thirty-five minutes back home.

Such was her life for two years.

Melodramas receive supposedly clever and intellectual criticisms. Despite this, they gain a new dimension on stage through the magic of live performance. Ballet is an immersive experience. It offers a full fusion of senses and emotions.

Midway through the first act, I found myself moved to tears—a rare experience for me with contemporary production. For the first time, I realized how adulthood had dulled my capacity for aimless joy and creativity.

Mayerling remains a masterpiece of modern ballet. Its eruption of sensuality captivates the audience, and the unpredictable actions of a troubled protagonist keep them intrigued. After all, the brilliance of MacMillan’s vision is undeniable.

Même si je reconnais le haut niveau esthétique et et la manière innovante de revoir ce classique, je ne suis pas exactement fan de la mise en scène « zen » de Robert Wilson. Néanmoins, même pour moi, qui préfère toujours les décors flamboyants, le suicide de Cio-Cio-san à la fin de l’opéra représente l’apogée de toutes les mises en scène modernes.

Since that night, in the glow of the stars, the enchantment resides eternally in the soul.