World Premiere Dr. Coppélius

Dr. Coppélius’ workshop is a vibrant world of mechanical marvels that stands in contrast to the ordinary village beyond. The quirky inventor is equally colourful and his difference provokes suspicion and ridicule amongst the villagers, especially the young lovers Franz and Swanilda. But Dr. Coppélius has a plan to challenge their assumptions, drawing them into his world with two mechanical dolls who spark surprising revelations. In the end, the villagers learn that being different is something to celebrate. 

• For her first full-length classical commission, Artistic Director Hope Muir intentionally selected a story ballet to welcome families and audiences new to the art form into the world of dance.
   
• The National Ballet performed Act II of Arthur Saint-Léon’s Coppélia in its very first year, 1951, followed by the full production in 1952.
   
• Like The Nutcracker, Coppélia is based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, in this case, The Sandman.
   
• A team of talented Canadian women, Dramaturge Eda Holmes, Set and Costume Designer Camellia Koo and Lighting Designer Bonnie Beecher, collaborate with Caniparoli to shape the vision for this exciting premiere. Together, they are crafting a vivid world of mechanical marvels inspired by 19th-century European automata. 
  
  
• A specialist in narrative ballet, Caniparoli has created many full-length ballets including five different productions of The Nutcracker!
  
  
• Caniparoli has worked closely with Willam Christensen who created the first version of Coppélia (1939)  in the US  for San Francisco Ballet.

Val Caniparoli has worked with San Francisco Ballet for over 53 years as a Principal Character Dancer, Resident Choreographer and Rehearsal Assistant, creating more than 160 works for ballet, opera, theatre, film and television worldwide. 

French composer Léo Delibes transformed ballet music with his full-length symphonic scores for Coppélia and Sylvia, elevating it from mere accompaniment to an art form in its own right – a shift that influenced Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Val Caniparoli, in collaboration with his longtime music coordinator and advisor Ramona Pansegrau, augments the original Coppélia score with additional music by Léo Delibes and his contemporary, Ernest Guiraud.

Choreography:
Val Caniparoli

Composer:
Léo Delibes and Ernest Guiraud

Librettist and Dramaturge:
Eda Holmes 

Set and Costume Design:
Camellia Koo

Lighting Designer:
Bonnie Beecher

Music Coordinator and Advisor:
Ramona Pansegrau

Assistant to the Choreographer:
Maiqui Mañosa

World Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, March 13, 2027 

Produced and commissioned by The National Ballet of Canada. 

Dr. Coppélius is supported by The Anna McCowan-Johnson New Creations Fund and The Volunteer Committee of The National Ballet of Canada.