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Review:- "Le Corsaire"
Review by
Jo
Forrest.
ON Wednesday, 18 November 2015, at the
Liverpool Empire the English National Ballet’s production of Le Corsaire started
to be preformed.
Le Corsaire, which means The Pirate, is the
tale of a swashbuckling Pirate Conrad who travels across the high seas to rescue
his beautiful true love Medora in a tale of love and betrayal. Le Corsaire is
somewhat different to the usual fairy tale. The inspiration for this ballet if
from a poem written by Lord Byron in 1814 Le Corsaire was 1st staged in Russia
by the Imperial ballet of St Petersburgh in 1849 and ran until 1856. The English
National Ballet became the first company to perform Le Corsaire as a complete
work. The story set in 3 acts and runs for a total of 2hrs 30 mins.
Act 1
This opens with Conrad and his friends being washed ashore. The shipwrecked
pirates are soon found by young Greek women. Conrad and Medora fall in love but
there is an impending danger and the women hid the men. A patrol of Turkish
traders are on the look out for beautiful women to sell as slaves. The women are
captured and they head off to a slave market in a Turkish bazaar with the
Corsaires vowing to rescue the unfortunate maidens. Seid Pasha arrives at the
bazaar looking to buy beautiful women for his harem. He puts a bid in for Medore
but its outbid by Conrad in disguise.
Act 2
Conrad and his fellow Corsaires take Medora and her fellow maidens to their cave
filled with treasure. Conrad and Medora declare their love for each other and
the women ask Medore to intercede on their behalf so that they may be released.
Conrad promises to free them but the other pirate object. A fight breaks out but
Conrad true to his word releases the women. Lankendem, the villain gives a
bouquet of flowers to Medora to give to Conrad that have been laced with drugs,
the potion immediately induces sleep and Medora is then captured. Upon awakening
Conrad and Ali vow to save her once again.
Act 3
Seid Pasha's harem Gulnare is enjoying herself when Lankendem arrives and
presents the Pasha with three beautiful women to entertain the harem. Eventually
Medora is brought in, though sad at being captured once more she is happy to be
reunited with Gulnare. The Pasha is warned that mysterious pilgrims have arrived
and this coincides with the evening prayer conducted by the leader who is none
other than Conrad in disguise. Once their identity is revealed they take their
revenge and rescue Medora and Gulnare.
The was a beautiful ballet, but probably not the easiest 1 to follow if honest.
The costumes were beautiful and performances were outstanding. Le Corsaire is
now being performed by the ENB in London, this is a show definitely worth seeing
even if you don't fully follow what is going on. The elegance and and ability of
these exceptional dancers is worth it just to see them perform.
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