Ballet: “Le Corsaire”
Performing Artists: Corps de Ballet of Liaoning China
City: Dongguan
Venue: Dongguan Yulan Theatre
Dates & Times:
2014-02-26 at 20:00, & 2014-02-27 at 20:00
Price: 60 RMB, 120 RMB, 180 RMB, 230 RMB, 280 RMB
Brief Introduction to “Le Corsaire”
Prelude
A sudden attack happens on the Aegean Sea during a storm. A group of pirates struggle and fight with a crazy storm until the pirate boat flips and is engulfed by the ocean.
Act I, Scene I
Pirate Captain Conrad, with his friend Ali and Birbanto struggle to disembark, and fall faint on the beach…..
After the storm has passed, Medora, Gulnara and other fishing girls find Conrad on the seashore, and hide him from soldiers hunting pirates. Unfortunately, the girls fall into the hands of slave trader Akenmite.
Act I, Scene II
At the slave market by the port, Akenmite begins to sell his plunder, girls and pirate captives at auction. Most captives are bought by Viceroy Pasha, who was even willing to buy beautiful Medora after possessing Gulnara. At that moment, Shaikh removes his cloak, revealing himself to be Pirate Captain Conrad. Conrad and his friends save the captives and imprison slave trader Akenmite.
Act II
The triumphant pirates celebrate victory in a cave. Conrad and Medora fall in love with each other, and Medora is determined to accompany Conrad. Conrad orders the pirates to escort the captive girls back home and present their plunder. Birbanto doesn’t agree to send his girls back and quarrels. In jealousy and dissatisfaction, Birbanto instigates a mutiny against Conrad, which fails as Conrad and his friend Ali are righteous and strong.
Akenmite seizes the opportunity to turn Birbanto, intoxicate Conrad with drugs, attempt to assassinate him, and finally takes Medora to Pasha. Conrad and his friend Ali recover from intoxication and seek to retrieve Medora.
Act III
At Pasha’s viceroy mansion, Medora is bought by a slave trader and meets her friend Gulnara. While Pasha is in the back garden, Conrad with Ali and his pirates disguise themselves as monks and enter the mansion. Conrad fights Birbanto and stabs him to death. Conrad is reunited with Medora in a scene of great joy. The pirates and freed slaves sail to freedom as they stare at their billowing sails.
