PNB closes season with comic ballet

  • By Jackson Holtz Herald Writer
  • Thursday, May 31, 2012 8:58am
  • LifeGo-See-Do

Pacific Northwest Ballet is closing the 2011-12 season with the much-loved production of George Ballanchine’s “Copellia.”

The ballet’s history reaches into the height of 19th century romanticism and the rise of mechanical invention. It’s a play on the art of invention with a life-size doll finding a way be part of a real couple.

Swanilda and Franz are the happy pair until they come across Dr. Coppelius, an eccentric inventor.

Coppelius has built a life-like doll who steals Franz’s interest. Meanwhile, Swanilda will have no part in losing her beau. She dresses up like a doll to trick Franz.

No worries, the couple make up and the ballet’s final act features a spectacular wedding celebration.

“It is eye-poppingly beautiful,” said Gary Tucker, a spokesman for PNB. “It is the happiest ballet on earth.”

The ballet debuted in 1870 in Paris, then was restaged by the famous Petipa in 1884 for the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersberg.

Then, in 1974, Ballanchine reenvisioned and rechoregraphed the dance for the New York Ballet.

PNB premiered the Ballanchine version in 2010 with new sets and costumes by Italian designer Roberta Guidi de Bagno. It’s that production that opens tonight.

The music is composed by Leo Delibes, who Ballanchine credits for inspiring Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky.

This is a comic ballet, full of fancy and classic dance.

Although long— it runs 2 1/2 hours with two intermissions — it should still be engaging for younger audiences.

The matinees include free family activities before the show and during the intermissions.

“Copellia” opens tonight with eight performances through June 10 at McCaw Hall in Seattle.

Performance are at 7:30 p.m. tonight and June 2, 7, 8 and 9. Matinees are at 2 p.m. June 2 and 9; and 1 p.m. June 10.

Tickets cost $28 to $168 at www.pnb.org or 206-441-2424.

Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3447; jholtz@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Free celeb photos! Dig into The Herald’s Hollywood time capsule

John Wayne, Travolta, Golden Girls and hundreds more B&W glossies are up for grabs at August pop-up.

Rodney Ho / Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Tribune News Service
The Barenaked Ladies play Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville on Friday.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Edmonds announces summer concert lineup

The Edmonds Arts Commission is hosting 20 shows from July 8 to Aug. 24, featuring a range of music styles from across the Puget Sound region.

Big Bend Photo Provided By Ford Media
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend Increases Off-Road Capability

Mountain Loop Highway Was No Match For Bronco

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Mustang Convertible Photo Provided By Ford Media Center
Ford’s 2024 Ford Mustang Convertible Revives The Past

Iconic Sports Car Re-Introduced To Wow Masses

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

The 2025 Nissan Murano midsize SUV has two rows of seats and a five-passenger capacity. (Photo provided by Nissan)
2025 Nissan Murano is a whole new machine

A total redesign introduces the fourth generation of this elegant midsize SUV.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.