Classical Ballet Coppelia - L. Delibes (Ballet in two acts) Brilliant Classical Stanislavsky Ballet and Opera theatre (established 1887, founded by Stanislavsky)
Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Schedule for Coppelia - L. Delibes (Ballet in two acts) 2022
Composer: Leo Delibes Choreography: Roland Petit
Orchestra: Stanislavsky theatre symphony orchestra
Classical Ballet in 2 acts
Premiere of this production: 8 July 2012
Composer Leo Delibes Choreography Roland Petit Production Luigi Bonino Set Design Ezio Frigerio Costume Design Franca Squarciapino Lighting Jean-Michel Desire
Premiere July 8, 2012
- Synopsis
Summary
Coppelia concerns an inventor, Dr Coppelius, who has made a life-size
dancing doll. It is so lifelike that Frantz, a
village swain, becomes infatuated with it and sets aside his true heart's
desire, Swanhilde. She shows him his folly by dressing as the doll, pretending
to make it come to life and ultimately saving him from an untimely end at the
hands of the inventor.
- Act I
The story begins during a town festival to celebrate the arrival of a new
bell. The town crier announces that, when it arrives, anyone who becomes married
will be awarded a special gift of money. Swanhilde and Franz plan to marry
during the festival. However, Swanhilde becomes unhappy with Franz because he
seems to be paying more attention to a girl named Coppelia, who sits on the
balcony of a nearby house. The house belongs to a mysterious and faintly
diabolical inventor, Doctor Coppelius. Although Coppelia spends all of her time
sitting motionless and reading, Franz is mesmerized by her beauty and is
determined to attract her attention. Still upset with Franz, Swanhilde shakes an
ear of wheat to her head: if it rattles, then she will know that Franz loves
her. Upon doing this however, she hears nothing. When she shakes it by Franz's
head, he also hears nothing; but then he tells her that it rattles. However, she
does not believe him and runs away heartbroken.
Later on, Dr. Coppelius leaves his house and is heckled by a group of boys.
After shooing them away, he continues on without realising that he dropped his
keys in the melee. Swanhilde finds the keys, which gives her the idea of
learning more about Coppelia. She and her girlfriends decide to enter Dr.
Coppelius’s house. Meanwhile, Franz develops his own plan to meet Coppelia,
climbing a ladder to her balcony.
- Act II
Swanhilde and her friends find themselves in a large room filled with people.
However, the occupants aren't moving. The girls discover that, rather than
people, these are life-size mechanical dolls. They quickly wind them up and
watch them move. Swanhilde also finds Coppelia behind a curtain and discovers
that she, too, is a doll.
Dr. Coppelius returns home to find the girls. He becomes angry with them, not
only for trespassing but for also disturbing his workroom. He kicks them out and
begins cleaning up the mess. However, upon noticing Franz at the window,
Coppelius invites him in. The inventor wants to bring Coppelia to life but, to
do that, he needs a human sacrifice. With a magic spell, he will take Franz’s
spirit and transfer it to Coppelia. After Dr. Coppelius proffers him some wine
laced with sleeping powder, Franz begins to fall asleep. The inventor then
readies his magic spell.
However, Dr. Coppelius did not expel all the girls: Swanhilde is still there,
hidden behind a curtain. She dresses up in Coppelia’s clothes and pretends that
the doll has come to life. She wakes Franz and then winds up all the mechanical
dolls to aid their escape. Dr. Coppelius becomes confused and then saddened when
he finds a lifeless Coppelia behind the curtain.
- Act III
Swanhilde and Franz are about to make their wedding vows when the angry Dr.
Coppelius appears, claiming damages. Dismayed at having caused such an upset,
Swanhilde offers Dr. Coppelius her dowry in return for his forgiveness. However,
Swanhilde's father tells Swanhilde to keep her dowry and offers to pay Dr.
Coppelius instead. At that point, the mayor intervenes and gives Dr. Coppelius a
bag of money, which placates him. Swanhilde and Franz are married and the entire
town celebrates by dancing.
Schedule for Coppelia - L. Delibes (Ballet in two acts) 2022
|