The Corsair

Ballet by Adolphe Adam

Music by Adolphe Adam, Cesare Pugni, Léo Delibes, Riccardo Drigo
Libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Joseph Mazilier based on a poem “The Corsair” by Lord Byron

World premiere on January 23, 1856 in Opéra de Paris
Premiere of the current version on March 1, 2020 in Rome Opera House
Premiere in the Estonian National Opera on December 2, 2022.

Despite having written approximately 40 operas and several other stageworks, the ballets “Giselle” (1841) and “The Corsair” (1856) as well as the marvellous Christmas carol “O Holy Night” (1843) remain his best known works. Adam’s last oeuvre “The Corsair” is loosely based on the 1814 poem “The Corsair” by Lord Byron. This classic ballet narrates the story of the passionate pirate Conrad who falls in love with the beautiful Medora. When Conrad and his pirates abduct Medora from a slave market to their secret grotto, the adventure is just about to begin...

Choreographer José Carlos Martinez: “For me it was a ballet that I never danced myself and it was interesting to try to do something that would be respectful of the tradition, not a new version of a classical ballet. I wanted to give “The Corsair” something unique from me, and at the same time preserve the lush and beauty of all these famous moments, like the magic garden or the big pas de deux, the pas d’esclaves. So, I thought it was reasonable to make a purified version of the ballet, composed of a fairy tale quality similar to “Giselle” or “The Nutcracker” and simplify the dramaturgy of an otherwise complicated plot and bring to the foreground the main characters of Medora and Conrad. Therefore, what the audience will be able to see, is a story of love between the two main protagonists and the adventures of their well-known companions. I found the inspiration for the story in Lord Byron’s poem, as well as in the original score by Adolphe Adam, which I also changed where necessary. I put all these iconic parts in the centre of the ballet and round them I built my story”.

“The Corsair” by the outstanding Spanish dancer and choreographer José Carlos Martinez is a real treat for everybody, especially as it is the first time that “The Corsair” enters the repertoire of the Estonian National Ballet.

Recommended age 7+

Cast:

Conrad, the pirate: Cristiano Principato, William Newton, Ali Urata, Joel Calstar - Fisher
Medora: Ami Morita, Laura Maya, Anna Roberta
Lankendem, Slave Trader: Sergei Upkin, Finn Adams, Ali Urata, Francesco Piccinin
Gulnare: Ketlin Oja, Akane Ichii, Nanae Maruyama, Marta Navasardyan
Ali, Conrad's slave: Ali Urata, Finn Adams, Jan Trninic, Antonio Gallo, Cristiano Principato
Birbanto, pirate: Francesco Piccinin, Nikos Gkentsef, Joel CalstarFisher, Marcus Nilson, Ali Urata, Finn Adams
Birbanto's friend:Marjana Fazullina, Karina Leškin, Phillipa McCann, Ashley Chiu, Ellinor Piirimäe
Pasha-Seyd, a Turkish ruler: Marcus Nilson, William Newton, Ali Urata
Eunuch: Daniel Kirspuu, Jan Trninic, Antonio Gallo
Odalisques: Laura Maya, Akane Ichii, Phillipa McCann, Marjana Fazullina, Nanae Maruyama, Ellinor Piirimäe, Abigail Mattox ,Maarja Praks, Marta Navasardyan, Ketlin Oja, Rio Morisawa, Polina Sosimova
4 soloist of the Secret Garden: Marjana Fazullina, Akane Ichii, Laura Maya, Ellinor Piirmäe, Karina Leškin, Nanae Maruyama, Abigail Mattox, Nadežda Antipenko, Phillipa McCann, Maarja Praks, Ksenia Seletskaja, Kim Jana Hügi, Rio Morisawa, Marta Navasardyan, Polina Sosimova, Ketlin Oja