Coppélia: A Comedy with Love

Choreographer Bengt Jörgen, CM

Music Léo Delibes

Costume Design Léo Delibes

Set & Lighting Design Glenn Davidson

Run Time 2 hours with 1 intermission

About the Performance

Coppélia is one of the world’s oldest surviving ballets and is the best known and most performed comedic ballet. It is a daring, bold and funny story that takes us into the mysterious mind of Dr. Coppélius, a lonely and disillusioned toy maker who wishes he could bring a perfect doll to life. CBJ’s contemporary retelling of the story will delight audience of all ages.

Dr. Coppélius creates Coppélia, a stunning, life-sized dancing doll. The story’s beauty and hilarity develop quickly as Nathanael, one of the local villagers, falls madly in love with the doll. His sweetheart Klara enacts revenge, and confusion and love are explored through her pretending to be Coppélia to punish Nathanael.

Choreographed by Bengt Jörgen and set to the original score by Leo Delibes, CBJ’s production of Coppélia originally premiered in 2001 and is an international co-production between Canada’s Ballet Jörgen and The Hong Kong Ballet.

Coppélia’s choreography will take advantage of the exceptional technical standards of the company’s current dancers. The production reflects our classical identity, and storytelling approach with humour, intimacy and dramatic intensity.

Coppélia is one of the company’s most popular family ballets.

Videos

Testimonials

“It was innovative, whimsical and amusing, yet dramatic in all the right places.”
Susan Doolan
The Barrie Examiner

“I saw Coppélia and was thoroughly impressed. I have had the great fortune of seeing a few performances by Ballet Jörgen and this was my absolute favourite so far. The dancers were excellent, as per usual, but the facial expressions and comedic gestures were perfect. The dancers really looked as though they were enjoying themselves.”
– Audience Member

“Everyone seems to get better and better — excellent performance.”
– Audience Member