GREAT PERFORMANCES: LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER: NEW YORK CITY BALLET: COPPELIA (TV)
Summary
One in this series on the performing arts. In this program -- one in a series of live broadcasts from the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City -- the New York City Ballet performs "Coppelia." The announcer gives the following credits for this production: music by Leo Delibes; book by Charles Nuitter, after E.T.A. Hoffman; choreography by George Balanchine and Alexandra Danilova; scenery and costumes by Rouben Ter-Arutunian; lighting by Ronald Bates; costumes executed by Karinska and Barbara Matera; music conducted by Robert Irving; and with lead dancers Patricia McBride, Helgi Tomasson, and Shaun O'Brien. Host Edward Villella introduces the performance, then Act I begins. In this act, Swanhilda and Frantz, a betrothed couple, are attracted to a pretty creature named Coppelia, who sits reading on the balcony of the mysterious Dr. Coppelius's house. At intermission, Villella interviews lead dancers Patricia McBride and Helgi Tomasson about their performances. Afterwards, Villella reflects on the history of ballet performance in general, and Coppelia in particular. He gives brief biographies of choreographers George Balanchine and Alexandra Danilova. Villella interviews Danilova, who explains how the New York production of Coppelia came about, and describes how it is different from other productions. The dancer shares memories from her past, after which Act II begins. In this act, Swanhilda and Frantz, each in turn, sneak into Dr. Coppelius's house. Coppelia comes to life, and she and Frantz unite. In the second intermission, Villella discusses character roles, and interviews dancer Shaun O'Brien, who describes his work with Patricia McBride. Next, Villella discusses the quality of the music and interviews conductor Robert Irving. Irving talks about his own skill as a ballroom dancer, and shares some thoughts on conducting for ballets and on this performance. Lastly, Villella introduces Act III. In this act, a pageant takes place in the town, and Frantz and Swanhilda are married.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by The Edward John Noble Foundation.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: January 31, 1978 Tuesday 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:26:25
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:72463
- GENRE: Music; Dance
- SUBJECT HEADING: Ballet; Dance; Music
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1976-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- John Goberman … Producer
- Kirk Browning … Director
- Emile Ardolino … Director
- Tobi Tobias … Writer
- Charles Nuitter … Based on the book by
- E.T.A. Hoffman … Based on the story by
- Leo Delibes … Music by
- Robert Irving … Conductor
- George Balanchine … Choreographer
- Alexandra Danilova … Choreographer
- Edward Villella … Host
- Martin Bookspan … Announcer
- New York City Ballet … Dance Company
- Patricia McBride … Cast, Swanhilda/Coppelia, Dancer
- Helgi Tomasson … Cast, Frantz, Dancer
- Shaun O'Brien … Cast, Dr. Coppelius, Dancer
- Sheryl Ware … Dancer
- Heather Watts … Dancer
- Christine Redpath … Dancer
- Susan Hendl … Dancer
- Colleen Neary … Dancer
- Robert Weiss … Dancer
- Michael Arshansky … Dancer
- Debra Austin … Dancer
- John Bass … Dancer
- Toni Bentley … Dancer
- Bonita Borne … Dancer
- Elyse Borne … Dancer
- Victoria Bromberg … Dancer
- Maria Calegari … Dancer
- Hermes Conde … Dancer
- Richard Dryden … Dancer
- Gerald Ebitz … Dancer
- Nina Fedorova … Dancer
- Laura Flagg … Dancer
- Peter Frame … Dancer
- Susan Freedman … Dancer
- Judith Fugate … Dancer
- Lauren Hauser … Dancer
- Lisa Hess … Dancer
- Nichol Hlinka … Dancer
- Dolores Houston … Dancer
- Kipling Houston … Dancer
- Sandra Jennings … Dancer
- William Johnson … Dancer
- Lourdes Lopez … Dancer
- Peter Naumann … Dancer
- Kyra Nichols … Dancer
- Bruce Padgett … Dancer
- Bryan Pitts … Dancer
- David Richardson … Dancer
- de Ribere, Lisa … Dancer
- Francis Sackett … Dancer
- Paul Sackett … Dancer
- Lilly Samuels … Dancer
- Peter Schetter … Dancer
- Carol Marie Strizak … Dancer
- Richard Tanner … Dancer
- Ulrik Trojaborg … Dancer
- Sandra Zigars … Dancer
- Ronald Bates
- Barbara Matera
- Karinska Matera
- Rouben Ter-Arutunian