encourage him to recount them. So he begins: “The first was named Olympia.” And the curtain falls on this prologue.

Act One

The scene: a room in Spalanzani’s house. There are two alcoves at either side of the stage, concealed by huge curtains. Spalanzani enters, draws aside the curtain of one of them, and gazes with pride and satisfaction at the latest of his inventions — a mechanical doll named Olympia. He is uneasy, however, on the score of his friend Coppélius, who claims to have a share in the invention of this doll.

Spalanzani has invited a great company to his house to present his latest invention to them and put it to the test. The first to arrive is young Hoffmann. Spalanzani offers to take him as his pupil, promising to make a great scientist of him. The host goes off to make ready for the party, and Hoffmann gazes with eagerness and rapture at the beautiful Olympia, repeating, “Come! a little courage and confidence.” His friend Nicklausse comes in and is astonished at his infatuation with this doll with the porcelain eyes. After him comes Coppélius, carrying a large sack containing scientific playthings of every kind, among them a pair of spectacles that permit their owner to plumb the depths of a woman’s soul. The callow Hoffmann is delighted to purchase these two magic lenses.

Spalanzani returns and falls into a dispute with Coppélius over which of them is the true inventor of the mechanical doll; it ends with the latter renouncing his claim in return for a draft for a sum of Venetian gold. The rest of the guests arrive, and Spalanzani

brings out Olympia, who moves about the hall with stiff, mechan-ical motions. Hoffmann puts the magic lenses before his eyes and is bewitched by her as never

before. Soon

the doll’s owner proudly announces that his doll will carry out any wish of his guests. A lute is brought, and Spalanzani takes to

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