Act One

On a public place in a small village on the outskirts of Galicia, Swanilda leaves home and goes toward to Coppelius’ house. There she notices Coppelia, daughter of the old Coppelius, sitting there absorbed in reading. Swanilda tries to draw Coppelia’s attention, but there is no reply. Swanilda feels jealous and angry by seeing Frantz, her fiance, sending a kiss to Coppelia.

The Mayor comes and announces the good news that the Lord of the District is going to give a new bell to the Church next day. The Mayor asks Swanilda whether she is going to marry Frantz tomorrow. Swanilda gives no reply.

Looking at Frantz mischievously, Swanilda decides to embarrass Frantz by telling a legend that a twig of straw can sometimes reveal all secrets. Swanilda puts the twig of straw to her ear and pretends to listen, and then she tells Frantz to listen as well. “Does the twig of straw not say to you that you are unfaithful?” Frantz answers that he hears nothing. Swanilda dances with her friends and Frantz leaves in spite.

When the night falls, Coppelius comes out of his home. He double locks the door. One of Swanilda’s friends finds the key that Coppelius dropped when he struggles with the group of young men. Jealousy makes her forget her scruples, Swanilda opens the door and enters into Coppelius’ house with her friends.

Frantz wants very much to meet Coppelia. He leans the ladder against the balcony and tries to enter into Coppelius’ house.

 

Act Two

In Coppelius’ house, Swanilda and her friends find out that Coppelia is a doll. The girls run around in the house laughing, playing, they no longer have anything to be scared of. Suddenly Coppelius arrives furiously. He closes the curtains, stops all the dolls, all young girls run away. Swanilda hides behind the curtains, where Coppelia is, without being seen.

On hearing a noise, Coppelius quickly goes to hide behind a chair and sees Frantz climbing through the window into the room. Frantz declares that he is in love with Coppelia. Coppelius pretends to be friendly to Frantz and makes him drunk until he falls asleep. Coppelius is glad that he can accomplish his spell to transfer Frantz’s life into his daughter, Coppelia.

Wearing Coppelia dress, Swanilda disguises herself as Coppelia. She plays with Coppelius. At Coppelius spell, she seems alive and stands up in a very mechanical way. She obeys to Coppelius’ orders and starts to dance that made Coppelius cannot control his emotion and falls to his knees crying.

Frantz wakes up. Swanilda opens the curtains and puts back Coppelia to her wooden base. Frantz is in dismay. Coppelius understands that he has been tricked.

 

Act Three

In front of the Lord’s castle, the Russian Priest blesses the bell. The villagers enter, wave to the Lord and his followers with respect. The Mayor presents the brides and grooms and amongst there is Swanilda with Frantz, whom she forgave in the end.

There is a celebration signal, followed by a dance performance starting with Hours of the Day, Dawn, the Hours of the Night, and the Spinners. Swanilda and Frantz present themselves dress in white and tenderly dance their love for each other. The Priest blesses them. All the brides and grooms dance one by one. Everyone is dancing and celebrating joyously the union of Frantz and Swanilda.