Review: charming Coppélia shows Hong Kong Ballet at its best
Classic production was vividly acted and beautifully danced, and showed the value of the troupe performing in city’s satellite venues
After an absence of several years, Hong Kong Ballet returned to Sha Tin with a revival of Ronald Hynd’s much-loved version of Coppélia.
You couldn’t ask for a better production of this ballet, the most light-hearted of all the major 19th century classics. Hynd’s comedy is beautifully judged, his choreography responds with elegance and élan to Delibes’ irresistible score and Roberta Guidi di Bagno’s delicious designs are the icing on the cake.
This is an ideal show for family audiences – an easy-to-follow story for children, plenty of good dancing for adults and humour which appeals to both.
The warm reception from a packed house at Sha Tin shows again how rewarding it is for company and audiences alike for the Ballet to perform in venues beyond its home base at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Liu Yuyao and Shen Jie brought the feisty heroine Swanhilda and her wayward fiancé Franz to life with vivid, natural acting, impeccable comic timing and an abundance of charm.