“This ballet is heritage”: “Coppélia” to be seen from October 10 to 15 at the Nice Opera

“I want to pay tribute to my artistic family and I wish to pass on to today’s dancers what was given to me as a heritage and of which they will in turn be guardians for the greatest pleasure of our audience.” These words are those of Eric Vu-An, the director of the Nice Ballet, who died last June, about “Coppélia”, the ballet by Léo Delibes, which he added to the company’s repertoire in 2011. . And which will be in performance at the Nice Opera from October 10 to 15.

Céline Marcinno, ballet administrator, and ex-dancer, danced “Coppélia” at the time: “This ballet is heritage. The costumes, which were redone 2 years ago, use the original designs dating from 1870. Eric Vu-An’s choreography uses the original to which he added a psychological dimension to the characters.”

A heritage to which Eric Vu-An was therefore attached. The importance of knowing where we come from, to better continue creating: “He was very attached to the memory of the creators. We must not forget where all this dance comes from, all this language, everything that has nourished our creations today. We must be able to show what was done and where it comes from.”

All the ingredients for success

“Coppélia” is the story of a mechanical doll so beautiful and so realistic that it turns heads, including that of Frantz, who is promised to Swanilda. When Frantz enters the workshop of Coppélius (whom Eric Vu-An played for a long time), the doll creator, he wants to steal his soul to bring his creations to life, but he will be saved by Swanilda who ‘he will marry in the end. For Céline Marcinno, “it’s really the dream that is put in the spotlight, the childish soul of Coppélius who wants to believe that with an extra soul, he will be able to transform his automatons into living beings. This quest and this spirit of childhood and dreams, Éric was very attached to it”.

Centerpiece of the classical repertoire, “Coppélia” “is practically no longer played in this version”, assures Céline Marcinno. However, it has all the ingredients for success: pantomime, the music of Léo Delibes, played by the Nice Symphony Orchestra, and the best of classical dance, tinged with folk dances from Central Europe such as the czardas or the mazurka .

> “Coppélia”, by Léo Delibes, by Eric Vu-An and the Ballet Nice Méditerranée. From October 10 to 15 at the Nice Opera. Duration: 2 hours with intermission. Prices: From 10 to 47 euros.