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HCM CITY  (VNS) — Norwegian Johanna Jakhelln Constant will choreograph one of the greatest comic ballets of the 19th century, Coppelia, for two nights of performances by the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera at the Opera House this week.

Coppelia was originally choreographed by Arthur Saint-Leon to the music of Leo Delibes and with libretto by Charles Nuitter. Nuitter's libretto and mise-en-scene was based upon two stories by ETA Hoffmann: Der Sandmann (The Sandman), and Die Puppe (The Doll).

The ballet presents a budding romance between two villagers, Frantz and Swanilda, alongside the curious workings of their eccentric neighbor Dr Coppelius, a mad inventor who has taken to creating life-like automatons.

The music of Coppelia links two great historical periods of ballet – the French Romantic style and the Russian Classical style.

Constant, who choreographed HBSO's hugely successful productions of The Nutcracker and Cinderella, has won three choreography awards for her original works Chairished and Flickering Blue. The shows are on September 28 and 29.. — VNS