Coppélia

Synopsis

Act I

The square of a picturesque Polish fair on the eve of a popular holiday. The young Swanilda is interested in the home of the enigmatic Coppelius, an old doll maker, at whose window she sees the figure of a girl who seems to be reading a book. Swanilda tries to get his attention, but the mysterious being in the window remains motionless.

When her fiancé Franz appears, Swanilda hides to surprise him. He notices how the girl at the window also attracts Franz's attention, who, charmed by her beauty, looks at her for a long time, greets her, and it seems to him that she answers him.

Swanilda comes out of hiding and grabs her lover. Meanwhile, the market fills up with people. The mayor also arrives with the bell maker, announcing the next day's celebration, on the occasion of the installation of a new bell given by the baron.

Strange noises are heard from the house of the mysterious Coppelius and the windows are brightly lit. The curious crowd wonders what magical secrets the doll maker is hiding. When the atmosphere returns to normal, the mayor reminds Swanilda that her marriage will take place the next day, but the young woman no longer seems determined to take this step.

The thought that Franz is bewitched by the appearance of her rival in the window does not give her peace and, unsure of his love, she turns her back on him. Franz walks away and Swanilda, now seeming indifferent, continues to dance with her friends. The ritual dance with the ears of wheat, which do not sound properly when shaken, cannot confirm Franz's love to Swanilda, leaving her sad.

A group of young people from a neighboring Hungarian village appears and enlivens the locals with a czardas, and eventually the evening falls on the market and people disperse from the street.

The craftsman Coppelius finally leaves the workshop where he has been working and locks the door, but in the commotion caused by some young men, he loses the key to the entrance, and Swanilda is the one who finds it. Curious and jealous at the same time, she decides to discover the enigma behind the figure in the window and sneaks into the workshop with her friends. Coppelius returns to the street anxiously searching for his key, and is followed from the shadows by Franz, interested in the same mystery of the girl in the window. Seeing the door open, the old man runs inside worriedly.

Act II

The girls entered Coppelius's somewhat sinister workshop, stepping fearfully through the shadows created by the strange figures. The young women are amazed at the sight of the human-sized mannequins and fearfully explore, and Swanilda is quick to make eye contact with the stranger at the window, whom she finds hiding behind a chair.

Realizing that the supposed rival is nothing more than a doll like all the others, the girls burst into laughter and ransack the workshop, examining the craftsman's creations. I casually touch the dolls which begin to make mechanical movements and, carried away by the rhythm of the movements, the girls dance joyfully.

When Coppelius angrily storms in, stopping the machinery and chasing the girls away, Swanilda remains hidden in the workshop.

Meanwhile, Franz also dares to enter the workshop, confessing to Coppelius that he loves the girl at the window and wants to meet her. In the old man's mind immediately sprouts the ambition to sacrifice the young man in order to realize his occult plan, namely the animating of his exceptional creation, the doll that bears his name: Coppélia.

The craftsman shows himself benevolent and gives the young man wine to drink in which he has poured sleeping pills, putting him to sleep in order to implement his plan. During this time, Swanilda takes the place of the doll at the window. The old man brings her close to the sleeping one and proceeds to magical steps to revive her, by migrating Franz's soul into the doll's body. Now the "doll" Swanilda enters Coppelius' scheme and gradually comes to life, standing up and sketching dance steps full of élan and grace.

But the "doll" thus enlivened keeps approaching the sleeping youth, and, in spite of Coppelius' efforts to interrupt it, Swanilda seeks to save her lover by waking him.

At dawn, the brass band is heard announcing the start of the festivities. The craftsman wants to place the "doll" in its seat and deactivate it, but it keeps moving, setting several other mechanisms in motion. Thus, Swanilda manages to wake up her fiancé. The two flee together, throwing the mannequin at the feet of Coppelius, whose absurd magic was foiled by their love.

Act III

The two lovers leave the puppeteer's house and tell their friends about the strange events experienced in the workshop, which actually reconfirmed their love.

The atmosphere is enlivened by the appearance of the baron and his family, accompanied by the village procession celebrating the installation of the new bell offered by the nobleman.

In front of the owner of the place pass the young couples about to get married, and Swanilda and Franz are among them.

In the midst of the general joy and excitement Coppelius appears, sad, holding the broken doll in his arms. Swanilda and Franz apologize to the naive old man for the mess in his workshop. The craftsman accepts their apologies and blesses their love.

Synopsis

1^st Act

The square of a picturesque Polish fair on the eve of a popular holiday.

Young Swanilda is interested in the home of the enigmatic Coppelius, an old doll craftsman, at whose window she sees the silhouette of a girl who seems to be reading a book. Swanilda tries to get his attention, but the mysterious creature in the window remains motionless.

When her fiancé Franz appears, Swanilda hides to surprise him. She notices how the girl at the window also attracts Franz's attention, who enchanted by her beauty, looks at her for a long time, greets her, and it seems to him that she answers him.

Swanilda comes out of hiding and argues with her boyfriend. Meanwhile, the market is filling with people. The mayor also arrives with the master bell-ringer, announcing the next day's celebration, on the occasion of the installation of a new bell donated by the baron.

Strange noises are heard from the house of the mysterious Coppelius and the windows are brightly lit. The curious crowd wonders what magical secrets the doll maker is hiding. When the atmosphere returns to normal the mayor reminds Swanilda that her marriage will take place the next day, but the young woman no longer seems determined to take this step.

The thought that Franz is enchanted by the appearance of her rival from the window does not give her peace and feeling insecure about his love, she turns her back on him. Franz walks away, and Swanilda, now seeming indifferent, continues to dance with her friends. The ritual dance with the ears of wheat that do not sound appropriate when shaken, cannot confirm Swanilda's love for Franz, leaving her saddened.

A group of young people from a neighboring Hungarian village shows up and animates the locals with a csardas and in the evening they leave the fair and the people disperse from the street.

Master Coppelius finally leaves the workshop where he kept working and locks the door, but in the commotion caused by a few young people he loses the key to the entrance, Swanilda being the one who finds it. Curious and jealous alike, she decides to discover the riddle behind the silhouette at the window and sneaks into the workshop with her friends. Coppelius returns to the street anxiously searching for his key, and is pursued from the shadows by Franz, interested in the same mystery of the girl in the window. Seeing the door open, the old man runs inside worried.

2^nd Act

The girls entered Coppelius' somewhat sinister workshop, walking frightened through the shadows created by strange silhouettes. The young women are amazed at the sight of human-sized mannequins and explore in fear and Swanilda is in a hurry to meet the stranger from the window, whom she finds hidden behind a chair.

Realizing that the alleged rival is nothing more than a doll like all the others, the girls burst out laughing and rummaging through the workshop, researching the master's creations. Reaching in pass the dolls they begin to make mechanical movements and, driven by the rhythm of the movements, the girls dance full of joy.

When Coppelius storms in stopping the mechanisms and driving the girls away, Swanilda remains hidden in the workshop.

    Meanwhile, Franz also dares to enter the workshop, confessing to Coppelius that he loves the girl by the window and that he wants to meet her. In the old man's mind immediately springs the ambition to sacrifice the young man to realize his occult plan, namely the life of his exceptional creation, the doll that bears his name: Coppélia.

    The master is benevolent and gives the young man to drink some wine in which he poured sleeping pills; the young man is put to sleep and the master implements his plan. Meanwhile, Swanilda takes the doll's place in the window. The old man brings her close to the sleeping one and moves on to magical puzzles to enliven her, by migrating Franz's soul into the doll's body. Now the "doll" Swanilda enters Coppelius' scheme and gradually comes to life, getting up and sketching dance steps full of zeal and grace.

    But the "doll" thus animated always approaches the sleeping young man and, despite Coppelius' efforts to interrupt her, Swanilda seeks to save her lover, waking him up.

    At dawn, the marching band announces the beginning of the festivities. The craftsman wants to put the "doll" on her chair and deactivate it, but it moves constantly, setting in motion a few other mechanisms. Thus, Swanilda manages to wake up her fiancé.

The two run away together throwing the mannequin at Coppelius's feet, whose absurd magic was thwarted by the love of the two.

3^rd Act

The two lovers leave the puppet house and tell their friends the strange events they lived through.

The atmosphere is animated by the appearance of the baron and his family, accompanied by the village procession celebrating the installation of the new bell offered by the nobleman.

The young couples who are about to get married pass in front of the owner of the place and among them are Swanilda and Franz.

In the midst of the general joy and liveliness, Coppelius appears, sad, holding the broken doll in his arms. Swanilda and Franz apologize to the naive old man for the mess he made in his workshop. The master accepts their apology and blesses their love.