Coppélia
The ballet Coppélia ou La Fille aux yeux d'émail (German Coppelia or The Girl with Glass Eyes ) was composed in 1870 by Léo Delibes based on a libretto by Charles Nuitter and Arthur Saint-Léon , the latter also created the original choreography. The plot is based on ETA Hoffmann's story The Sandman . The premiere took place on May 25, 1870 at the Paris Opera , with Eugenie Fiocre as Franz, and was a triumphant success. To this day, Coppélia is part of the standard repertoire of classical ballet.
action
1st act
In a village square
Old Dr. Coppélius spent his whole life developing his magic powers. Sometimes they worked, but mostly it was unsuccessful. His greatest dream and ambition is to bring Coppélia, one of his mechanical dolls, to life. Nobody in the town suspects what Coppélius is up to, but the sounds and explosions in his mysterious house often startle the citizens.
One day, Dr. Coppélius Coppélia on the balcony. He notes with enthusiasm that everyone thinks they are alive. Swanilda, who lives across the street, doesn't like the fact that Coppélia doesn't notice her but turns her attention to her fiancé Franz. The mayor appears and advises Swanilda to test Franz's loyalty with an ear of corn: if it rattles, his love is real. Before leaving the square, the mayor announces that everyone has been invited to the ducal seat. For the inauguration of the church bell donated by the duke, a "bell mask" is to be performed there.
After everyone has left, Swanilda and her friends return and decorate the space for the next day's festivities. Curious, they decide to go to Dr. Coppélius and take a closer look at the mysterious girl on the balcony. As soon as they have disappeared through the front door, Franz appears. He has the same idea.
2nd act
In Dr. Coppélius' workshop, a little later
In the workshop, Swanilda and her friends are amazed to discover that Coppélia is just a doll. Coppélius returns and drives the girls away. Only Swanilda can hide unnoticed. When Franz also enters the house, Coppélius threatens him at first, but then he amicably offers him a cup of wine. An added sleeping pill lets Franz fall into a deep sleep. With incantations from his magic book, the soul is said to pass from Franz to Coppélia and thus animate it. In the meantime, however, Swanilda has taken Coppélia's place and put on her costume and mask. When she starts dancing, Dr. Coppélius to have created a living being. Franz, who has awakened again, begins to flirt with her passionately, until Swanilda angrily removes her mask and runs away. Suddenly coming to his senses, Franz smashes the workshop, grabs the doll and also escapes from the house.
3rd act
In the ducal gardens the following evening
The Duke solemnly hands over the new bell and presents Franz, Swanilda and another couple, who announced their wedding today, with bags full of gold coins. Franz is laughed at by the girls because he was so maddened by a doll. The festivities are interrupted by Dr. Coppélius. Outraged, he laments the destruction of his workshop, but the generous Duke reconciles him with a bag of gold and he gets Coppélia back.
Now nothing stands in the way of Franz and Swanilda's reconciliation, and the mask play can begin with the “dance of the hours” and “the dawn of a new day”. Allegorical dances symbolize the call of the bell to prayer, to work, to the wedding, the call to arms and finally to the proclamation of peace, where Swanilda and Franz also ensure their love.
Coppélius remains alone and forgotten, but in the certainty that at least once his magical powers have actually worked.
music
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Productions
The Berlin premiere was brought out by Paul Taglioni at the Royal Court Opera , with Antonietta Dell'Era in the title role. Varvara danced Nikitina in the Russian premiere in 1884, Den Kongelige Ballet followed in 1896, and the London premiere in 1906 was choreographed by Adeline Genée .
Chemnitz Opera
Coppélia premiered on May 1, 2004 in a new production at the Chemnitz Opera . The choreography and staging came from Thorsten Händler . The play was moved to a school in the early 20th century. The first act took place in a classroom, the second act in Dr. Copelius, and the third act took place in the auditorium when giving certificates.
Karlsruhe State Theater
The Karlsruhe Coppélia, which premiered on November 19, 2005, was staged by the English choreographer Peter Wright . For the choreography, Peter Wright closely followed the template by Marius Petipa and Enrico Cecchetti . The action has been moved to a small town on the Galician-Hungarian border. Peter Farmer designed the set and costumes . Music: Badische Staatskapelle Karlsruhe .
Vienna State Opera
The piece was choreographed by Gyula Harangozó senior on January 29, 2006 . Premiere. His son Gyula Harangozó modernized the production, the stage design came from the Hungarian musician Kentaur and the costumes from Rita Velich . Polina Semionova played Swanilda, Tamás Solymosi her bridegroom Franz. Lukas Gaudernak played the role of Coppélius and Shoko Nakamura played his doll Coppélia.
Hessian State Theater Wiesbaden
On June 11, 2006, the Hessian State Theater Wiesbaden presented Coppélia in its own production by the Italian choreographer Gaetano Posterino with the in-house ballet company. The orchestra of the Wiesbaden State Theater played.
Semperoper Dresden
Coppélia premiered on February 5, 2011 at the Semperoper in Dresden . The new production is based on George Balanchine's version from 1974, who used the classic choreography by Marius Petipa for his »Coppélia« .
State Theater Detmold
A new production by the Detmold State Theater had on October 12, 2012 in the production and choreography Swanilda, Egid Mináč Franz, Gaëtan Chailly Dr. Coppelius and Gisela Fontarnau i Galea the Coppelia. The symphonic orchestra of the Landestheater Detmold played.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Eberhard Rebling : ballet A-Z . 4th edition, Berlin: Henschelverlag Art and Society, 1980, p. 52