About the work
Léo Delibes's comic ballet in three acts was premiered on 25 May 1870 at the Paris Opéra, based on E. T. A. Hoffmann's unsettling tale "The Sandman"—here turned toward comedy. The original choreography was by Arthur Saint-Léon. It was the last ballet created at the Paris Opéra before the Franco-Prussian War; the first Coppélia, Giuseppina Bozzacchi, died at only seventeen during the siege of Paris.
Plot
The young Swanilda discovers that the beautiful Coppélia, with whom her fiancé Franz has become infatuated, is only a mechanical doll built by the eccentric inventor Dr. Coppélius, sitting motionless on his balcony. Curious, Swanilda and her friends break into the workshop full of life-sized automata. When Coppélius catches the dreaming Franz also breaking in, he attempts to transfer the young man's life-spirit into his doll. Swanilda disguises herself as Coppélia come to life, exposes the illusion through her clever play, and wins Franz back. The village celebrates the couple's reconciliation with a great festival.
Cultural significance
Coppélia is one of the most popular comic ballets of the classical repertoire, combining virtuoso dance technique with cheerful pantomime. Delibes's colourful, symphonically worked score is regarded as pioneering for the development of ballet music and significantly influenced Tchaikovsky, who openly admired him. The csárdás and waltz scenes are repertoire staples, and the dual role of Swanilda/Coppélia demands comic talent as much as classical brilliance.