 Music by Leo Delibes Original staging by Arthur Saint-Leon Staged and directed by Frederic Franklin Scenery by Tony Straiges Costumes by Patricia Zipprodt Lighting by Brad Fields World Premiere: Theatre Imperial de l'Opera, Paris, 5/25/1870 Original Cast: Guiseppina Bozacchi and Eugenie Fiocre ABT Premiere: (of full-length ballet) Brooklyn Academy of Music, 12/24,68 Choreography by Enrique Martinez Scenery and costumes by William Pitkin Cast: Carla Fracci and Erik Bruhn 
Act I - The curtain rises on the
square of a small European town several
hundred years ago. A lovely young girl,
Coppelia, is seen sitting on a balcony reading a
book as Swanilda enters. Swanilda looks up at
the girl, tries to attract her attention, but
receives no reply. Franz, Swanilda's lover,
comes into the Square and blows a kiss to the
beautiful Coppelia. She ignores him too, and
continues unconcerned with her book.
However, Swanilda has seen these attentions
of her lover to another pretty girl, and Franz is
a very busy young man assuring Swanilda that
he is not faithless and his affections are hers
alone. Still jealous, Swanilda refuses to believe
him and runs away as a group of young people
interrupts their
quarrel.
The Burgomaster enters to announce that at a
celebration the following day the Lord of the
Manor will present dowries to all couples who
wish to marry. Asked if she will marry Franz,
the pouting Swanilda puts a sheaf of corn to
her ear. Thus, according to old custom, the
corn will tell her if her lover is faithful or not.
Sadly, she says the ear is silent. The other
couples, however, are delighted at the
Burgomaster's good news and dance until
night falls when they must leave for
home.
Dr. Coppelius comes out, locks his door, and
is immediately swirled away by a boisterous
band of revelers. In the excitement he drops
the key to his shop. Swanilda and her friends
appear, and, finding the key, they are filled
with curiosity about the strange Doctor and
enter his shop. Dr. Coppelius returns, sees his
door open and darts in. Franz enters carrying a
ladder which he uses to climb on to Coppelia's
balcony.Act II - The curtain rises on the
dimly-lit interior of Dr. Coppelius' shop -- a
room full of life-like, life-size dolls. Swanilda
pokes her head into an alcove to discover
Coppelia. Someone jars a Chinese doll who
dances until its clockwork runs down. The
amazed young intruders then wind up all the
dolls who dance as the friends watch,
enchanted. Suddenly, a furious Dr. Coppelius
enters and culprits flee, except Swanilda. She
runs into the alcove where Coppelia is kept. At
the same time, Dr. Coppelius apprehends the
faithless Franz entering by the window. Franz
pleads his love for the beautiful Coppelia. Dr.
Coppelius pretends to listen with interest while
he entices Franz with several well-doctored
drinks. When the unsuspecting Franz passes
out, Dr. Coppelius brings what he thinks is his
fabulous doll Coppelia from her alcove.
However, it is Swanilda who, overhearing
Franz's declaration of love for Coppelia, has
changed places with the doll. The Doctor
makes some magical gestures over Swanilda as
she awkwardly rises to dance. The deluded Dr.
Coppelius believes his puppet has come to
life.
Swanilda dances on and on, creating havoc in
the room and upsetting all the Doctor's work.
Franz, who has just revived, dashes out of the
room chased by Dr. Coppelius. Eluding the
Doctor, Franz returns to watch the
proceedings with glee until, finally, he and
Swanilda run out leaving the shop in a
shambles. Dr. Coppelius returns to discover
the figure of Coppelia lying in her chair,
divested of clothes, and realizes that he has
been
deceived.Act III - The curtain rises on the final
act which is again set in the village square.
Franz and Swanilda, now reconciled, approach
the Burgomaster to receive their dowries and
be married. Dr. Coppelius storms in, accusing
the lovers of destroying his life's work.
Swanilda, realizing the justness of his claim,
offers him her dowry, but the Burgomaster
gives Dr. Coppelius a bag of gold and sends
him off. The townspeople then participate in
the fete which unites Swanilda and Franz in a
happy
marriage. 
At the age of 33, Delibes was commissioned
by the Paris Opera to write his two large-scale
ballets, Coppélia and
Sylvia. Coppélia is
based on a story by E. T. A. Hoffmann -- the
same tale that sparked Offenbach's brilliant
"Doll Act" in his opera, The Tales of
Hoffmann. Coppélia met
with immediate success on its completion in
1870 and has been held a charming favorite by
succeeding ballet-lovers both young and
old. |
© Copyright 2003-2007 Ballet Theatre Foundation, Inc.
All rights reserved.