Although the French composer Adolphe Adam is best known for his beloved classic Giselle, his Le Corsaire (1856) captivated audiences worldwide. The production is choreographed by Aivars Leimanis, the celebrated former Latvian ballet star and long-standing artistic director of the Latvian National Opera Ballet, whose Giselle captivated Split audiences back in 2010 and is still remembered as a landmark performance.
A quintessential work of the Romantic era, Le Corsaire draws inspiration from Lord Byron’s poem of the same name. Originally choreographed by Joseph Mazilier to a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges, the ballet has since been shaped by the legendary Marius Petipa, whose St. Petersburg stagings remain the foundation of modern productions. At its heart lies the story of the beautiful Medora, sold into slavery to a Turkish pasha, only to be rescued by the valiant corsair Conrad. From there unfolds a tale of passion, adventure, and intrigue—culminating, of course, in the ultimate triumph of love.