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June 3-13, 2010
Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
321 Mercer Street, Seattle Center
Seattle, WA 98109
June 3-5 at 7:30 pm
June 5 at 2:00 pm
June 10-12 at 7:30 pm
April 12 at 2:00 pm
April 13 at 1:00 pm
Special activities for children and families, including crafts and dance classes, begin one hour before all matinee performances. Children are invited to bring a special doll with them to matinee performances.
SEATTLE, WA – PNB concludes its 2009-2010 Season, and realizes a long-time dream of Artistic Director Peter Boal, with a beautiful new production of George Balanchine’s classic comic ballet, Coppélia. Based on Balanchine’s memories of the Russian Imperial Ballet production, and staged in close collaboration with the great dancer Alexandra Danilova, Coppélia has been called one of the happiest ballets in existence. Much of its lasting appeal may be attributed to a melodiously beautiful score by French composer Léo Delibes, legendary for his ability to illustrate dance atmosphere and action. For its new production, which is being co-produced with San Francisco Ballet, PNB has commissioned Italian scenic and costume designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno, whose enchanting conceptions were last admired by audiences of PNB’s The Merry Widow. Based on the book by Charles Nuitter, Coppélia is considered a triumphant masterpiece of characterization and comic timing. Enlightened by the wit and wisdom of George Balanchine, Coppélia offers absolute delight to ballet newcomers and families, as well as PNB’s most seasoned patrons. Coppélia runs for nine performances only, from June 3 to 13 at Seattle Center’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Tickets may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at 206.441.2424, online at pnb.org, or in person at the PNB Box Office at 301 Mercer St.ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
Music: Léo Delibes (Coppélia, ou la Fille aux Yeux d'Émail, 1869–1870; with excerpts from Sylvia, ou la Nymphe de Diane, 1876, and La Source [Naďla], 1866)
Book: Charles Nuitter, after E.T.A. Hoffmann’s Der Sandmann, 1815
Choreography: Choreography by Alexandra Danilova and George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust (after Marius Petipa)
Staging: Judith Fugate and Garielle Whittle
Scenic and Costume Design: Roberta Guidi di Bagno
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli
Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Original Production Premiere: May 25, 1870; Paris Opera Ballet, choreography by Arthur Saint-Léon
Petipa Production Premiere: November 25, 1884, Imperial Ballet, St. Petersburg, choreography by Marius Petipa after Arthur Saint- Léon; revised 1894 by Enrico Cecchetti
Balanchine Production Premiere: July 17, 1974; New York City Ballet (Saratoga Springs, New York)
PNB Premiere
Drawn from ballet's Romantic period and informed by a 19th-century fascination with mechanical toys, Coppélia is the tale of cheerful young lovers, Swanilda and Franz, whose courtship is briefly interrupted when Doctor Coppelius, the village's eccentric inventor, creates a doll so life-like that Franz becomes infatuated. When her suitor attempts a clandestine rendezvous, Swanilda evens the score by dressing as the doll and pretending to come to life. Ultimately, the pair is reconciled, and Act III's effervescent wedding-day festivities offer an array of spectacular dances.
Coppélia marked the passing of ballet supremacy from France to Russia. Originally choreographed by Arthur St. Léon in Paris in 1870, it was restaged by Marius Petipa in St. Petersburg in 1884 and revised by Enrico Cecchetti in 1894. Little, if any, of St. Léon’s choreography remains in today’s production, although Acts I and II retain his ideas and the story of mischievous young lovers. Balanchine provided entirely new choreography for Act III.
Balanchine wrote, “In 1974, I decided we should stage Coppélia at the New York City Ballet and asked the ballerina and teacher Alexandra Danilova, celebrated for many years for her Swanilda, to collaborate with me on the choreography. I remember very well performances by the Russian Imperial Ballet of Coppélia and as a member of the company danced in the mazurka.
“I have often said that Delibes is one of my favorite composers for dance. In our new Coppélia, we used the entire score of the three-act version. The first dance drama of really uniform excellence deserves no less! No part of the ballet is subordinate to any other; most important of all, ballet music in Coppélia participates in the dance drama as never before, Delibes’ charming, melodic music assisting the plot and unifying the music and dance. Tchaikovsky was directly inspired by Delibes’ score to write his own ballet music. Delibes is the first great ballet composer; Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky are his successors.” [Program notes by Doug Fullington.]
SPECIAL EVENTS & OFFERS
Coppélia Seminar
Saturday, May 22, 2010, 3:00–5:30 pm
The Phelps Center, 301 Mercer Street, Seattle
PNB's new production of George Balanchine's Coppélia will be the focus of this seminar. Learn the history of Coppélia, the 19th-century’s best-loved comic ballet, and the classic French score by Léo Delibes, with its musical themes representing the ballet's characters. The seminar includes a preview glimpse at the production's sumptuous costume design and a rare look at some of the Coppélia choreography Balanchine remembered from his youth in St. Petersburg and how it informed his own version of the ballet. Tickets to this special event are $20 and may be purchased through the PNB Box Office.
CONVERSATIONS WITH PNB — FREESunday, May 23, 2:00 pm
Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 Tenth Avenue
PNB's Sunday afternoon series features an hour-long discussion about George Balanchine’s Coppélia with principal dancer Kaori Nakamura, and soloist Seth Orza in the Elliott Bay Book Company at their new Capitol Hill location. All Conversations with PNB are FREE of charge.
BALLET PREVIEW — FREETuesday, June 1, 12:00 noon
Central Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle
Join PNB for a free lunchtime preview lecture at the Central Seattle Public Library. Education Programs Manager Doug Fullington will offer insights about George Balanchine’s Coppélia complete with video excerpts. FREE of charge.
PNB LECTURE SERIES & DRESS REHEARSALWednesday, June 2, 2010
Lecture 6:00-6:50 pm, Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall
Dress Rehearsal 7:00-9:30 pm, McCaw Hall
Join Designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno and stager Judith Fugate for an engaging conversation during the hour preceding the dress rehearsal of George Balanchine’s Coppélia. Attend the lecture only or stay for the dress rehearsal. Tickets are $12 for the lecture, or $25 for the lecture and dress rehearsal. Tickets may be purchased by calling PNB at 206.441.2424, online at www.pnb.org or in person at the PNB Box Office at 301 Mercer Street.
