Milli Stubel-Orth Light Box

The Archduke Johann Salvator von Habsburg formed a life-long relationship with the Vienna Hofoper ballet dancer Ludmilla (“Milli”) Stubel (1852–1890). 1889 he quit his Imperial status and called himself – after his Gmundener castle – “Johann Orth” and wed the commoner Milli. In 1890, after their sea journey to Cape Horn, both were regarded as missing, and in 1911 they were declared dead. In 1883 Johann wrote the ballet “Die Assassinen” (The Assassins). At the premiere Milli Stubel appeared on stage illuminated from head to foot by Edison’s new light bulbs. In the millennium year 2000 Irene Andessner gave a dramatic interpretation of this Milli Stubel scenario in several venues throughout Austria (e.g. Traunsee/Schloss Orth, MuseumsQuartier Wien).