Le Corsaire  CTC

Rating CTC

Release DateSaturday, 21 April 2012

Length 3hrs 4min

Main Cast Performed by the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia

Movie DirectorAlexei Ratmansky

DistributorSharmill

Inspired by a poem by Lord Byron, The Corsair (1814), this ballet was originally created in 1856 for the Paris Opera by Joseph Mazilier. In 1858, Jules Perrot presented his version at the Bolshoi Theatre, the version in which Marius Petipa danced. When he became a choreographer, Marius Petipa remained in charge of all choreographic versions until the beginning of the 20th century. In 2007, Alexei Ratmansky and Yuri Burklava created a new choreographic version which remains to this day, the most sumptuous of all.

On the market square of Adrianople, slave trader Lankedem presents his newly arrived goods. A group of corsairs appear in the square, led by Conrad. When Conrad and the beautiful Medora meet, they fall in love instantly. The Pasha appears in the square the captivated by Medora’s looks, he decides to buy her. Landekem after explaining that she is not for sale, eventually accepts the Pasha’s advantageous offer. Suddenly, at a sign from Conrad, the corsairs capture the female slaves including Medora...