Coppélia

The light-hearted comedy of George Balanchine’s Coppélia, a Boston Ballet premiere, begins the spring season. Based upon the book by Charles Nuitter, after “Der Sandmann” by E.T.A. Hoffman, this sentimental tale revolves around the life-size dancing doll created by Doctor Coppélius who becomes the source of love troubles for a village swain. The ballet, first choreographed by Arthur St. Léon, was restaged by Marius Petipa and again by Lev Ivanov and Enrico Cecchetti. Balanchine maintained elements from these versions in Acts I and II, creating entirely new choreography for Act III. With this premiere, Boston Ballet joins Geneva Ballet and New York City Ballet, as one of only three companies in the world that have performed this work. Léo Delibes score, called by The New York Times, “a classic of melody, orchestration, rhythm, and storytelling,” is at once lively and accessible. With more than 20 children from Boston Ballet School, Coppélia remains a jubilant and melodic triumph.