Emperor of Austria and His Advisors decide to sell the Vienna Wood to boost the thin coffers. Troll, the guardian of the Wood, calls up the wood spirits and dryads. They decide together how to prevent the disaster of their home wood destruction. The ball reception is taking place in the Imperial castle located in Vienna suburbs. The guests are waltzing and dancing sparkling polkas. A bit aside from the dancing couples Emperor of Austria is discussing the timber sale arrangement with Joseph, the timber dealer. Sly Troll is invisibly directing the ball reception. He drives Maria, Joseph’s fiancée to Crown Prince Rudolf. When the young man and the girl come across each other they fall in love at first sight and agree about a date in the Vienna Wood. The party is over. Emperor is signing the timber sale contract. Joseph and his friends are celebrating a profitable deal in the pub. In the meantime Maria and Rudolf meet in the wood. Waking around they get to the pub. Joseph notices the lovers. Raging he tries to stab the heir of Austrian throne. Maria rushes to protect her beloved and gets a deadly stab… The girl dies in Rudolf’s arms.
Rudolf is longing for his beloved. Three Fairies of the Wood – The Fairy of Fire, The Fairy of Water and The Fairy of Air – are trying to take the prince into the world of dreams and oblivion. However, he resists their charm. Troll offers a deal to the young man: Rudolf will get back Maria if the young man protects the Wood from destruction. Prince challenges Joseph. All the wood’s inhabitants help Rudolf. At last the villain is prostrate. The wood spirits are giving Maria back to Crown Prince. The lovers are finally united. Everybody is celebrating the triumph of good over evil, the triumph of light and beauty.
Ballet in 2 acts. Costume Designer – Natalya Badanina.
The famous Vienna Woods are beautiful and mysterious. Poets, artists and composers have created wonderful pieces of art inspired by the woods. The authors for the ballet Mystery of the Vienna Woods inspired by the real love story of Crown Prince Rudolf and Baroness Mary von Vetsera, as well as by Johannes Strauss and Gustav Mahler’s music have turned the story into the legend giving it a new life in art.