Prolog
Even a hundred years after the deed, a judge cross examines the assassin, Lucheni, who justifies his crime by slating that Elisabeth had been Death's mistress. To prove his point, Lucheni calls up Elisabeth's dead contemporaries and brings to live again the lost world of the Habsburg Empire. Suddenly Death is among them, an attractive young man. He admits to having been in love with Elisabeth. Lucheni launches into his tale: a love story between the Empress and Death.
Wie Du (Like You)
Duke Max of Bavaria, Elisabeth's father, is about to travel to Munich. Fifteen-year-old Elisabeth wants to escape with him from the boring family reunion, but the governess reminds her of her duties as a princess.
Schön, euch alle zu sehn (Nice To See You All Here)
A social gathering hosted by Elisabeth's mother Ludovika. The impeding betrothal of Elisabeth's sister Helene to the Austrian Emperor is announced.
Schwarze Prinz (Black Prince)
Elisabeth, the tomboy, shocks the high society with a circus act during which she falls and, for the first time, comes face-to-face with Death.
Jedem gibt er das Seine (He's The Just Distributor)
The Imperial Court in Vienna where young Emperor Franz Joseph reigns - advised and controlled by his mother, Archduchess Sophie.
So wie man denkt (That's How Life Goes)
August 1853. It is Sophie's wish that Franz Joseph marry his cousin Helene. However, when they meet at Bad Ischl, he falls in love with Helene's sister Elisabeth.
Nichts ist schwer (Nothing Is Difficult)
The two lovers are alone together for the first time. Lovestruck Elisabeth sees a fairytale ahead while Franz Joseph warns her that life might be difficult sometimes.
Alle Fragen sind gestellt (All The Questions Have Been Asked)
The wedding. Lucheni depicts it as the beginning of the end of the Habsburg Empire. Death rings the wedding bells.
Sie Passt Nicht (She Does Not Fit)
Max and Sophie discuss that nothing went to plan. Onlookers comment, rather meanly, about their new Kaiserin.
Der letzte Tanz (The Final Dance)
Death presents himself as Franz Joseph's rival, saying in the end he will be the winner.
Eine Kaiserin muss glänzen (It's The Duty Of The Empress)
Sophie subjects Elisabeth to the rigors of Spanish court etiquette. Franz Joseph does not provide the moral support she had hoped for.
Ich gehör nur mir (I Belong To Me)
Elisabeth decides that no one will tell her what to do. She is the master of her own life.
Die Ersten Vier Ehejahre (The First Four Marriage Years)
Many problems arise in the first four years of the marriage. Elisabeth feels abandoned. Her melancholy turns to hatred when her mother-in-law takes away her newborn children.
Die Schatten werden länger (Preprise) (The Shadows Grow Longer)
Sensing the opportune time, Death again appears on the scene to claim the life of the first of Elisabeth's children.
Die fröhliche Apokalypse (The Merry Apocalypse)
The following years are filled with unpleasant events and visitations. Lucheni maintains that this is no coincidence, and puts the blame on Death. The Emperor goes to war, while in the coffee house people sit around and wait for the end of the world.
Kind oder nicht (Child Or Not)
Sophie puts a stop to the contact between Elisabeth and Rudolf by entrusting Rudolf's education to Count Gondrecourt and his military drill methods.
Elisabeth, mach auf mein engel (Elisabeth, Open Up, My Angel)
Elisabeth realizes that she is not powerless. She confronts Franz Joseph with an ultimatum: she insists on being in charge of her children's education. In this way she decides the power struggle with her mother-in-law in her favor.
Elisabeth, sei nicht verzweifelt (Elisabeth, Do Not Despair)
Sensing despair, Death tries to convince Elisabeth to go with him. She refuses.
Milch (Milk)
The supply of milk has run out - Lucheni further excites the revolutionary mood of the people, by alleging that Elisabeth is using all the milk for her beauty baths.
Uns’re Kaiserin soll sich wiegen (Our Empress Should Pamper Herself)
Gräfin Esterhazy and the ladies-in-waiting prepare for Elisabeth's beauty ritual.
Ich will dir nur sagen (I Want To Say To You)
Franz Joseph gives into Elisabeth demands. He tells her she now has the power instead of her mother-in-law.
Ich gehör nur mir (Reprise) (I Belong To Me)
Elisabeth emerges, beautiful, and tells him she will stand beside him, but does not belong to anyone but herself.
END ACT ONE
Kitsch!
Elisabeth's great triumph is the reconciliation of the Emperor with the Hungarians. Amidst general rejoicing Lucheni states that Elisabeth, by supporting Hungary's struggle for independence, has confirmed the fall of the Hapsburg Empire. The new era will belong to nationalism. Death drives up in his carriage.
Wenn Ich Tanzen Will (When I Want To Dance)
Elisabeth triumphs over Death. She has found her way and will only dance the last dance with him when she is ready.
Mama, wo bist du? (Mama, Where Are You?)
Elisabeth is leading a very self-centered life. In so doing, she neglects Rudolf, her hyper sensitive son. Death takes this opportunity to offer his friendship to Rudolf.
Nichts, nichts, gar nichts (Nothing, Nothing At All)
Elisabeth pays a surprise visit to the patients of an insane asylum. There ensures an altercation with a woman who is convinced that she herself is the empress. Elisabeth thinks her whole life in senseless and wants to be like Titania.
Wir oder sie (Her Or Us)
Sophie and the Court Camarilla, divested of their previous influence, debate as to how to break Elisabeth's hold on the Emperor. They decide to try to lure him into being unfaithful.
Nur kein Genieren (Don't Play The Prude)
At Mrs. Wolf's salon, the most fashionable brothel in town, the Emperor's former Adjutant turns up to select a girl for is master. Lucheni alleges that the girl he picks is infected with a venereal disease.
Die Maladie/Der Letzte Chance (The Malady/The Last Chance)
Death reveals to Elisabeth that her husband has infected her with a 'certain maladie.' Elisabeth is shocked but not at all prepared to give into Death. She considers this mishap to be her chance to finally gain her freedom from all obligations.
Bellaria
Franz Joseph accuses Sophie of ruining his marriage. Sophie's justification is that the monarchy was at stake.
Rastlose Jahre (Restless Years)
Elisabeth travels around Europe with her retinue, interrupting her journeys only with a few short stays in Vienna. Franz Joseph is tormented by longing and remorse. Lucheni suspects that Elisabeth is trying to avoid getting older.
Die Schatten werden länger (The Shadows Grow Longer)
Death keeps Rudolf company. He persuades Rudolf to oppose his father, waking dangerous thoughts in his mind.
Vater Und Sohn (Father And Son)
A private meeting between Rudolf and Franz Joseph comes to a head when they quarrel about the future of the monarch.
Hass (Hate)
Followers of Schönerer's Alldeutsche Partei (German National Party) blockade the Ringstraße boulevard in Vienna. Anti-Semitic excesses occur. Rudolf is accused of protecting indications of fascism that will erupt in the 20th century.
Wie Du (Reprise) (Like You)
Elisabeth tries to use spiritualistic means to establish contact with the dead. Her father appears to her. It comes as a revelation to her that she will never be free.
Wenn ich dein Spiegel wär (If I Were Your Mirror)
Rudolf, hopelessly outmaneuvered and in despair, comes to see his mother. He pleads for her to intervene with the Emperor on his behalf. But Elisabeth rejects his appeal. She has not liberated herself only to become a petitioner again.
Mayerlingwalzer
Rudolf commits suicide in Mayerling with Mary Vetsera.
Totenklage (Dirge)
Rudolf's suicide shakes Elisabeth's self confidence, shattering her to the core. Her death-wish becomes overpowering. But now Death rejects her.
Boote in der Nacht (Ships In The Night)
Franz Joseph tries once more to dissuade Elisabeth from her restless way of life. The couple resigns themselves to the fact that love cannot heal all wounds. Only after a further restless decade has passed does Death take pity on the Empress. The final dance begins.
Alle Fragen sind gestellt/An Deck Der Sinkenden Welt (All The Questions Have Been Asked/The Deck Of The Sinking World)
In a nightmare showing him the fall of the House of Habsburg, Franz Joseph is confronted by his invincible rival. Terrifying visions of the doom of the Imperial House. Franz Joseph tries to save Elisabeth, but Death is faster. He throws the murder weapon towards Lucheni.
Der Schleier fällt (The Veil Descends)
As in the beginning, one can hear the voice of the judge. The cross-examination goes on. Lucheni's portrayal of Elisabeth's life culminates in his description of his attempt on her life. On the lakeside promenade of Lake Geneva, Elisabeth's struggle and yearning reach their climax in a passionate embrace with Death.