Galop Finale from "Coppélia" Leo Delibes / Arr. Evan Feldman

In the middle of the 19th century, European ballet was associated largely with stories of tragedy and gloom. In contrast, the ballet Coppélia, premiered in 1870 with music by Léo Delibes and choreography by Arthur Saint-Léon, tells the happily-ever-after story of the toymaker Dr. Coppélius, his life-sized doll, and two young lovers. Coppélia is a colorful comic ballet laden with folk melodies and dances, including early appearances in a ballet of the Hungarian czardas and mazurka. Legendary choreographer George Balanchine saw Delibes as the first great ballet composer, with Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky as his successors. Tchaikovsky was reportedly influenced by Coppélia in composing Sleeping Beauty, among others. This present arrangement is of the galop from the Act III finale, after the marriage celebration of the happy hero and heroine.