О, в этом мюзикле про Людвига еще и Елизавета действует
PLOT
Act I, Munich 1864
Among the mourners in the funeral procession for the Bavarian King Maximilian II is his son and heir, Ludwig II.. The endless procession leads to a church where the young King encounters three black Nymphs, who foretell a hard and lonely path. They warn him of the danger he he may face with affairs of state, women, and water. Despite these dangers, they encourage him to follow his dreams and to build the most amazing castles he envisions. In a hall at the royal residence the ministers of state are introduced to the latest weaponry, and hope to stir an enthusiasm for war in the new king. A Prussian Ambassador arrives, hoping to win Bavaria's support for a war against Austria. The ministers give him short shrift. They are waiting impatiently for the King's speech, but when he does arrive, he sings only of a Bavaria dedicated to art and peace.
The ministers decide to arrange the king's engagement to Sophie in Bad Kissingen. In the magnificent ballroom of the Bavarian spa, the crowned heads of Europe and their entourage are waltzing. Ludwig and his cousin Elisabeth, called Sissi, the beautiful Empress of Austria, confess their love for each other and dream of a far away paradise; though they know their situation is hopeless. Soon after, Ludwig meets the composer Richard Wagner, whose mythical operas he admires. The ministers are very suspicious of the many promises the King makes to the indebted composer. Cunningly they force Ludwig, for reasons of state, to become engaged to Sophie, the sister of Sissi, but Sophie is secretly in love with the young court photographer Hanfstaengl.
Ludwig's younger brother Otto suffers a mad fit. The King realises how helpless he is in the face of his minister's plans for war, and seeks solace in music.
In the music room, three ladies court the King: Cosima plays the piano with virtuosity and Sissi, accompanied by the court director of music Bülow, sings for Ludwig the song of the Eagle and the Seagull, an image of their hopeless love. Sophie is asked to sing, too, but intentionally sings poorly which causes Ludwig to end their engagement. Happily Sophie and Hanfstaengl fall into each other's arms – they have found their paradise. Ludwig feels that the future of music can only be found in Wagner's operas. On the "Marienbrücke" [St. Mary's Bridge], high above the Pöllat gorge he promises Wagner the building of a festival theatre. After enjoying a private performance of the new opera by the adored composer, Ludwig stumbles Wagner in a compromising situation with Cosima, the wife of Bülow. The King now feels betrayed by the entire world. The Nymphs then appear to show him a new aim in life – the fantasy world of the royal castles.
On the building site of the Neuschwanstein castle the ministers are criticizing the King's construction plans. Bismarck comes to make a deal with Ludwig: he convinces the King to consent to the foundation of the German Empire. In return Ludwig is given enough money from a secret fund to continue realising his architectural fantasies. Ludwig now becomes the fairy tale King who enjoys nocturnal sleigh-rides, celebrates drunken feasts in a Moorish Pavilion and finally dreams himself to be on a journey around the world in a hot-air balloon. Not even Sissi can draw Ludwig out of his remote and lonely imaginations. All the while, the ministers are plotting to have the King declared insane and unfit to rule.
Safe in his crystal grotto, the King becomes a director who stages his heroes in a wild fantasy. More and more Ludwig himself becomes immersed in the show.
He sings a loving duet with Sissi.
In his delirious state, real and imagined friends appear to him. But his enemies, the politicians and civil servants, have come to arrest him and roughly want to drag him away from this last, fantastical dream. The King pre-empts them and hands his ministers the royal insignia: crown, sceptre and coat.
"In memory my paradise awakens and calls to me" are the final words of the fairy tale King on the shore of Lake Starnberg. The hymnic Finale can begin.