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Coppelia
Music: Delibes
Choreography: Per Isberg
Coppelia is ballet's greatest comedy,a classic
first presented in 1870 by the Paris Opera
This ballet,choreographed by Per Isberg,is a free interpretation of the original libretto,incorporating the character and approach of the modern times.
Swanhilda's boy friend Franz is attracted by Coppelia,the doll invented by his Master Coppelius,a doll maker and inventor.Wanting to teach Franz a lesson,Swanhilda gets into Coppelia's costume.The young lovers,the passionate doll maker and the lifeless doll,bring a romantic device with a happy ending, leading the hero back to his real love.
Coppelius is a doll manufacture, a fanciful artist. His latest masterpiece is a doll named Coppelia.
Prelude
Coppelius is installing a mechanism into Coppelia to make her walk on her own. Franz, an apprentice to him, walks into the workshop. Coppelius, who does not want to be interrupted, pushes him outside the workshop.
Act I
Franz bumps into Swanilda, his lover, outside the workshop and her friends, they dance merrily. Seeing the dancing young men, Coppelius, having done his job and walked out, comes up with an idea of dressing Coppelia a pair of toe shoes.
Franz and Coppelius go away to buy the shoes. Swanilda, exasperated with being ignored, tails them.
Franz and Coppelius go back to work. The door is left open by Franz¡¯s neglect. Swanilda slips into the workshop, while her friends peek through the key hole.
Act 2
Franz and Coppelius dress Coppelia the toe shoes. Coppelius makes some magical gestures over Coppelia as she awkwardly rises to dance. Unexpectedly she goes wild due to a mechanic failure, and has to be recaptured to examine.
Swanilda perceives the whole thing in her hiding. She decides to teach Franz a lesson.
Swanilda put on the doll¡¯s clothes and dance beautifully. Mistaking Swanilda for Coppelia, Franz pleads his love to the beautiful doll. Franz's declaration of love for Coppelia left Swanilda in tears. Franz and Swanilda become reconciled.
Act 3
Swanilda and her friends are invited by Coppelius to look at the lovely doll¡ªCoppelia. Franz and Swanilda dance with joy and happiness, until Coppelius pushes them outside. At that moment, staying with Coppelia is the only comfortable thing for Coppelius, which is the dream of his life.
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