Libretto: Yury Slonimsky, Pyotr Gusev based on Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Joseph Mazilier
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Additional choreography: Vyacheslav Khomyakov
Staging: Vyacheslav Khomyakov
Musical director: Honoured Art Worker of the Republic of Belarus Nikolai Koliadko
Designer: People's Artist of Russia, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Vyacheslav Okunev
Lighting designer: Irina Vtornikova
Conductor: Yuri Karavaev

Assistant designer: Ekaterina Shimanovich

Running time: 2 hours 25 minutes with two intervals
Premiere: 7 October 2017

PROLOGUE

Scene 1
Storm. Shipwreck

Three brave men struggle with the power of the sea on board of a sailing ship. The ship sinks.


ACT 1

Scene 2
The Lagoon

On the shore of the lagoon, the slaver Lankedem and the Officer trace the three young men survived after the shipwreck. Greek girls are the first to find the corsairs, who are being tracked by Lankedem and the Officer, near the wreckage cast on the beach by the waves. Medora especially likes one of them, Conrad. He tells about himself and his friends, Ali and Birbanto. He confides that they are pirates, corsairs. The girls warn them of the Turkich soldiers’ approach. Medora and Gulnare manage to hide the corsairs, but they themselves are taken captive. The slaver Isaac Lankedem, who has traced the girls and brought the squad, is happy. He pays the Officer handsomely. The corsairs are unable to help the Greek girls now, but they swear to rescue them. 


Scene 3
The Bazaar

Lankedem displays his bondmaids to buyers gathered in the bazaar. Seyd, a pasha, is seated in the place of honour: he is looking for fresh beauties for his harem. Gulnare catches his attention, and he buys her. The slaver shows Medora, who is so beautiful that the Pasha is prepared to buy her at any price.

Meanwhile, a noble merchant comes ashore, whom Medora identifies as Conrad. The so-called merchant signs the girl not to give him away and joins the auction, offering an unprecedentedly high price. The Pasha orders the guards to catch the impudent strangers.  The merchant and his retinue throw off their fine cloaks: the Pasha and the other buyers are astonished to see armed corsairs in front of them. The latter kidnap Medora and the bondmaids and put out to sea. The Turkish guards fail to stop them.

In turmoil, the corsairs forget about Birbanto. The Pasha bribes him into betraying his friends. Birbanto is alleged to have taken Lankedem prisoner on his own. The slaver is to help Birbanto eliminate Conrad and capture Medora.
 

ACT 2 

Scene 4
The Grotto

Enamoured of each other, Conrad and Medora enjoy their freedom. The corsairs appear, carrying a huge haul stolen from the merchants. They celebrate their loot. Following Conrad’s request, Medora dances with him and his friend Ali. Aiming to delight Conrad, Medora puts on a men’s suit and performs the Dance of the Little Corsair. The corsairs are enchanted by the beauty of their leader’s chosen one. Birbanto enters and tells them how difficult it has been for him to capture Lankedem on his own. For the corsairs, he is also a leader like Conrad. The pirates dance the rousing Forban Dance.

The girls ask Medora to persuade Conrad to let them return home. Conrad agrees, but Birbanto, as well as the other corsairs, object. They demand that the girls stay on the island. A quarrel begins. Birbanto thrusts at Conrad with a dagger. Conrad wins the fight. Medora and he leave to see the girls to the shore. Birbanto is insulted and schemes to sedate Conrad. Lankedem will help him.

Night. Full of hopes, Conrad and Medora are happy. Lankedem appears in the corner of the grotto and gives Medora a bunch of flowers sprinkled with hypnotic powder. Unaware of that, Medora presents the flowers to Conrad to thank him for his chivalry towards the maidens. Conrad falls asleep. Strangers wearing masks and cloaks burst into the grotto: it’s the plotters lead by Birbanto. He removes his mask to reveal his face and tries to take advantage of Medora and to stab a sleeping Conrad, but he fails due to the timely appearance of Ali who murders the betrayer.

Lankedem manages to kidnap Medora. Having regained his consciousness, Conrad notices the abduction of his beloved; he swears to find and release her. Conrad and Ali plan to sneak into the palace, disguised as pilgrims.


ACT 3

Scene 5
Seyd Pasha’s Harem

The Pasha is entranced by Gulnare’s beauty: none of the new bondmaids offered by Lankedem can please him. Then the slaver brings Medora to the beautiful lively garden of girls. Enthralled, the Pasha buys her. Disguised as pilgrims, the corsairs enter the palace. The Pasha invites the pilgrims to join the evening prayer. Medora recognizes Conrad. The corsairs grasp an opportunity to set the girls free.


EPILOGUE

Scene 6
The Sea

Out on the rough open sea, the ship skims the waves, carrying Conrad, Medora and their friends towards new adventures.

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