Coppelia+by+Leo+Delibes

=Taste Number 2: The Ballet, Coppelia by Leo Delibes=

But first, a very famous ballerina...

 * [[image:DegasDancer14.jpg width="262" height="411" align="center"]]

//Little Dancer of Fourteen Years,// Bronze, gauze and satin
 * Edgar Degas**, 1880, cast 1920 || == [|Who was this little ballerina?] ==



Read the story behind the sculpture.

In the Library now!
|| =The story...= **Leo Delibes** //Coppelia// was written in 1870 by French Composer, Leo Delibes. || //The Sandman// written over 200 years ago by E.T.A, Hoffman. //**Coppelia**// introduced automatons, dolls and marionettes to ballet for the first time. || =In brief....= preparations, a lonely Dr Coppelius dreams of creating a doll with a soul. The mischievous Swanilda tricks him into believing his wish has come true, by changing places with the most beautiful doll of all - Coppelia....
 * [[image:leo_delibes.jpg width="222" height="291" align="center"]]
 * //Coppelia//** is a bright and light-hearted fairytale, based on a story called
 * //[|Coppelia]//** tells the story of toymaker Dr Coppelius and his collection of mechanical wonders. As his village buzzes with harvest festival

This is our version....
= Coppelia by Leo Delibes. =
 * [[image:P1130881-1.JPG width="388" height="267"]]

|| The sun rises on a beautiful day. In the window of the mysterious house of Dr Coppelius, the Toymaker, a beautiful stranger, Coppelia stands quietly watching as the day unfolds. || It's Market Day and excitement fills the air! || Swanilda and Franz arrive first, with eyes only for each other. The village square fills with music and dancing. When old Dr Coppelius leaves his house, he is caught up by the villagers and swirled along his way. || The light reveals the extraordinary silent workshop of the Toymaker. Swanilda creeps in determined to find out more about the mysterious stranger. Suddenly, as if by magic, the Workshop comes alive! Swanilda discovers the beautiful stranger hidden behind the curtain and is astonished to discover she is only a doll. || Hearing a noise, Swanilda quickly hides and changes places with the doll. Dr Coppelius bursts into the Workshop. He begins to weave a magic spell. He dreams of bringing his beautiful Coppelia to life. The magic drifts eerily around the Workshop. Swanilda decides to trick the toymaker.Pretending to be Coppelia, she begins to dance. She dances on and on, creating havoc in the room as everything she touches comes alive. || Suddenly Dr Coppelius gives a cry of anguish! His beautiful Coppelia is lying on the floor. As the Workshop darkens, Dr Coppelius is full of grief. Coppelia is nothing but a limply flopping, broken doll. || Sad Dr Coppelius leaves his house with all its broken toys. But Swanilda arrives and gives him a bag of gold to fix all the problems she has caused. || The sun rises on another day of celebration. Swanilda and Franz have decided to be married and the whole village joins in the celebration. || ||
 * [[image:P1130860-1.JPG width="390" height="277"]]
 * [[image:P1130860-1.JPG width="390" height="277"]]
 * [[image:P1130863-1.JPG width="405" height="306"]]
 * [[image:P1130871-1.JPG width="402" height="281"]]
 * [[image:P1130856-1.JPG width="393" height="275"]]

Listen to this famous waltz from Coppelia [|here.]
Coppelia Mazurka media type="custom" key="2147267" Coppelia Doll Dance media type="custom" key="2147273"

[|The Ballet Alphabet]

[|The Nutcracker] [|The Nutcracker Storybook]