Coppél-i.A.

"The idea of creating a ballet around Coppélia arose in 2016, but my thoughts were drawn to the ‘Girl with Enamel Eyes’ long before then... In fact, these thoughts were rather ambivalent since, although I was truly fascinated by the story of a young man falling in love with a mechanical doll, I was somewhat put off by the romanticism of the original ballet.

Then, I had the idea of revising the score to make it possible for me to revisit this classic work in the ballet repertoire by updating the narrative: a story of two fiancés whose love would be challenged by the appearance of artificial intelligence. Since I have always demonstrated profound respect for music and composers, it was not without apprehension that I prepared to commit this sacrilege. But the narrative angle for my ballet helped me do it... Artificial intelligence has so effectively intruded in our daily lives that many things have lost sanctity. They have become, if not expendable, at least replaceable without jeopardising the world’s survival. Thus, Coppélia’s was ‘genetically’ modified.

Who knows how long it will take before augmented dancers enter studios to perform choreographies generated by algorithms capable of reproducing inspiration? It is my conviction that this time is still a long way off. Even if it were to happen, the art of choreography will always require a soul, of flesh and sweat to personify emotions convincingly".

Jean-Christophe Maillot

Choroegraphy: Jean-Christophe Maillot
Original music and arrangement: Bertrand Maillot after Léo Delibes
Scénography, Costumes: Aimée Moreni
Lighting: Jean-Christophe Maillot and Samuel Thery
Dramaturgy: Jean-Christophe Maillot and Geoffroy Staquet
Duration: 1h42

Premiere by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, on December 27th 2019, Grimaldi Forum Monaco.