| Coppelia | 
| Actors: Delibes, Benjamin, Acosta, Heydon, Moklaveano
Studio: BBC / Opus Arte
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $23.25
You Save: $6.74 (22%)
Buy New/Used from $20.27
Avg. Customer Rating:   (9 reviews)
Sales Rank: 22990
Format: Classical, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 120 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 824
UPC: 809478000051
EAN: 0809478000051
ASIN: B00005S6KR
Release Date: November 20, 2001
Theatrical Release Date: 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Description
Coppelia, a mechanical doll made by the toy-maker Dr. Coppelius, is so life-like that some believe she is his daughter. The mistake leads to intrigue and jealousy in love. This 19th century classic, in an enchanting production by Royal Ballet choreographer Dame Ninette de Valoise, with original designs by Sir Osbert Lancaster, was broadcast live by BBC television in February 2000. With Leanne Benjamin, Carlos Acosta, Luke Heydon, and Nicolae Moldaveano.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Delibes delivers January 20, 2008
I am not a ballet critic by any means, but an average guy, and I guess most of you out there are like me. Delibes's music has always been sweet to my ears, but I had not been interested in this ballet until I learned that my daughter's ballet company was producing it this year. I enjoyed this DVD very much and it made me wish I was watching it live. The vintage German village, costumes and dances set this production apart from other popular tales. The story is well understood watching the performance. Some situations are similar to those on kid's TV shows seen on Disney or Nickolodeon channels, so kids with interest in ballet will enjoy it. I must say being familiar with the music helps me to enjoy the performance even more. At least this has been the case for me at some ballet, musicals, and other productions like Michael Flatley's. The widescreen is a plus for watching ballet if you have a widescreen TV, that is why I chose this DVD. This DVD comes with some interesting extra features. Thanks to the Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera House and BBC for this work of art.
 Coppelia Ballet September 17, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This video was well done. It focused on all the aspects of attending a ballet. The entire dance hall was filmed as well as the orchestra and its conductor. The ballet itself was a treat to watch. At the beginning of each act, the scenes were explained. Many dance students are not familiar with the story ballets. My students found the synopsis to be very helpful. As always, the dancing was fabulous and extremely entertaining. Bravo!!
Even the kids love it September 7, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
We rented this from netflix and are going to have to buy it. Our children do like ballet but so far they've seen only ballets that have simple concepts. Coppelia is a bit more complicated to explain but they all enjoyed the humor and our three-year-old asked to watch it repeatedly.
I'm afraid I can give no technical review as I am only a layperson but from where we sat it all looked very good. The dancing was interesting and lively. The characters were as developed as you can get in a ballet, perhaps even more so since it was a comedy, which for some reason makes ballet characters seem more human.
 Is that called Ballet March 23, 2006
0 out of 22 found this review helpful
Sorry,I am not a big ballet fan. But for this, I did not feel like I was watching ballet. Disappoint!
A Sparkling Performance Full of Humor November 24, 2005
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Before I begin I should in all fairness say that I am not a ballet expert. I purchased this DVD after getting to know some of Delibes' music on the Naxos CDs "Best of French Ballet" and "Invitation to the Dance". I enjoyed the music so much that I wanted to see the stage production as a whole. And that is what I got: This original BBC broadcast version of Coppelia contains all three acts and is performed in historic costume and with the original designs by Sir Osbert Lancaster at the Royal Opera House. Apart from the actual performance there are three "extras": the introduction to the original television broadcast by Deborah Bull; a ten-minute feature on the removal of the Royal Ballet to Covent Garden; and an illustrated biography of Sir Osbert Lancaster.
Personally, I found the performance mesmerising, enjoyable in every aspect. Leanne Benjamin gives an amazing performance considering that she had to stand in for the injured leading ballerina at very short notice. I found her gestures easy to follow (after listening to Deborah Bull's explanation), and her facial expression always delightful with just the right mixture of humour and mock gravity. The scene in Act 2 where she fools Dr. Coppelius into believing that Coppelia has come alive is absolutely hilarious. Her dancing is beautiful, too, and if there are one or two slight faults or hesitations, these can be forgiven her because of the circumstances.
Carlos Acosta is an equally fine "Franz", his good looks, his youth and fresh vitality combine with an unusual degree of charm and humour to make this a performance to remember. And surely, Luke Heydon's performance of Dr. Coppelius should not be overlooked: I don't know how often he is knocked over, carried around etc., but he manages to make it all look like child's play. He is certainly no ogre, rather a funny old man with his own sense of humour.
The rest of the team made a grand impression on me, not least the orchestra. The sound from a video DVD is usually inferior to what you would hear from a CD (probably a result of using a multi-format player), but I found the digital signal here (fed to an external D/A converter) to be quite satisfying. On Amazon's German-language website, one reviewer philosophizes about Delibes' music and the piece's commenting on the industrial revolution and man's relationship to the mechanical world. I think that is probably reading too much into a score that is just sheer good fun all the way through - a piece that will make you feel good about life!
All in all, this was a first-rate cultural experience not to be missed.
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