Adolphe Adam
Ballet
Libretto by Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Joseph Mazilier, edited by Yuri Slonimsky and Pyotr Gusev based on the eponymous poem by George Byron. Choreography by Marius Petipa, revised by Altynai Asylmuratova.
Ballet in two acts with a Prologue and an Epilogue
With the use of music by C.Pugni, L.Delibes, R.Drigo and P. of Oldenbourg
Premiere: January 23, 1856, Grand Opéra, Paris
Premiere at the Astana Opera House: May 25-26, 2018
PROLOGUE
The Storm and Shipwreck
Three sailors are struggling to save their ship during a storm. The ship sinks.
ACT ONE
Scene One
The Sea Shore
The sea casts the three young men, Conrad, Ali and Birbanto, onto a beach, where Greek girls find them near the remains of their wrecked ship. Medora is attracted by Conrad, who tells her that they are corsairs.
Danger now threatens in the form of a Turkish patrol. Medora and her friend Gulnara hide the corsairs, but the Turks take the girls prisoner.
The evil Isaak Lankedem, a slave trader, has traced the girls and connived with the patrol officer to seize them. He is pleased with the result and pays off the officer generously.
The corsairs are unable to help the Greek girls now, but they swear to kidnap them.
Scene Two
The Slave Market
Lankedem is presenting his slave girls to merchants in the market place, where Seid Pasha is seated in the place of honour, looking for fresh beauties for his harem. He is attracted by Gulnara, and buys her.
As she is taken away, Medora is brought in, looking so beautiful, that Seid Pasha is prepared to pay any price for her. But suddenly a noble merchant debarks from a ship, whom Medora recognizes as Conrad in disguise. Having given the girl a sign not to reveal him, the “merchant” begins to bargain, putting an unprecedentedly high price on her. Seid Pasha is astonished, and asks the new bidder to name himself. At once, the “merchant” and his followers throw off their beautiful cloaks and are revealed as armed corsairs. They carry Medora and slave girls away, seize Lankedem, and make off to sea. The Turkish guard has proved useless, and Seid Pasha is furious.
Scene Three
The Corsairs’ Cave
The corsairs rejoice at having seized such a reach booty from the market, and at having saved the beautiful young women. They dance in celebration, adored by the girls. Medora agrees to Conrad’s request and dances with him and his friend Ali. The corsairs are delighted by Medora’s beauty. The other young girls ask Medora to intercede with Conrad so that they may return to their own villages. Conrad allows himself to be persuaded, but Birbanto and the other men wish to keep the young women on the island. A quarrel breaks out. Conrad is adamant, and he and Medora lead the girls to the shore.
Lankedem has observed this conflict of options and, in exchange for his freedom, offers his help so that the corsairs can exact revenge on Conrad. The corsairs agree, and Lankedem gives them a potion, which will induce a heavy sleep when administered. The glad Birbanto pours the potion over a bouquet of flowers and orders Lankedem to give it to Conrad. The cunning Lankedem brings the bouquet to Medora who then presents Conrad with it in thanks for his chivalry towards the girls. Conrad falls asleep, and the corsairs abduct Medora.
Upon waking up Conrad finds out that Medora has been kidnapped. He swears to find and save her.
ACT TWO
Scene Four
Seid Pasha’s Harem
Seid Pasha admires Gulnara’s beauty and placidly puts up with her playing pranks. The odalisques entertain them. When Lankedem reappears with Medora, Seid Pasha is delighted. He buys her and is greeted by Le Jardin Animé, a garden of dancing beauties, among whom are Medora and Gulnara.
But mysterious pilgrims suddenly appear in the palace, and Seid Pasha invites them to join in evening prayer. Medora recognizes Conrad and his men, again in disguise, and this time she and the girls are truly saved from Seid Pasha by the corsairs.
EPILOGUE
Scene Five
Sea
In the midst of the raging sea, the corsairs sail away, together with Conrad, Medora and their friends, heading towards new adventures.