Performances of the ballet "Coppelia" by the National Ballet of Japan will be livestreamed for free on May 2, 4, 5 and 8 from the New National Theatre, Tokyo (NNTT).
The performances will be given without a live audience due to the state of emergency that was declared on April 25 to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each performance will start at 2 p.m. and end around 4 p.m. The streaming can be seen only live.
Coppelia is the name of a clockwork doll invented by Dr. Coppelius. He models it on Swanilda, a young and beautiful village girl. Her boyfriend, Franz, develops a crush on Coppelia, believing her to be human. Swanilda becomes jealous and tries to meet Coppelia at Dr. Coppelius' house.
The stylish 1975 production originally directed and choreographed by Roland Petit is witty and full of theatrical panache, updating the popular classical ballet's 19th-century concept.
The cast will be different for each of the four days. On May 2, for example, Yui Yonezawa will dance the role of Swanilda, with Shun Izawa as Franz and Shunya Nakajima as Coppelius.
The first state of emergency last year forced the cancellation of all operas and most ballet and theater performances at the NNTT in the second half of the 2019-20 season. The theater streamed recordings of many past performances for free during that time, which proved very popular with fans as well as those who had little or no experience of theatergoing.
"Although it's a pity that there will be no audience, I feel glad that we can put on the show in this way for everyone to see," said Miyako Yoshida, the artistic director of ballet at the NNTT. "Some dancers are making their debut this time. I think you will enjoy that the same work with the same choreography can look very different with a different cast. Please look forward to the show."
Visit facebook.com/nnttballet/ or the NNTT's website (nntt.jac.go.jp/english/ballet-dance/) for the YouTube link to watch the livestream and have a look at a leaflet for the production, both of which will be available soon.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
