Le Corsaire
Le Corsaire is a ballet typically presented in three acts, with a libretto originally created by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges loosely based on the poem The Corsair by Lord Byron. Originally choreographed by Joseph Mazilier to the music of Adolphe Adam and other composers, it was first presented by the ballet of the Théâtre Impérial de l’Opéra in Paris on 23 January 1856. All modern productions of Le Corsaire are derived from the revivals staged by the Ballet Master Marius Petipa for the Imperial Ballet of St. Petersburg throughout the mid to late 19th century.
Movements
Act I
- Scene II. Action
- Action
- Action
- Action
- Boléro
- Coda
- Corsairs' bacchanal
- Ecossaise
- Introduction
- La Française
- Mazuetta
- Overture and opening of Scene I
- Pas des éventails
- Tarantella
- Variation for Mlle Grantzow (1867)
Act II
- Scene I. Pas des odalisques
- Action
- Entrance of Gulnare
- Gulnarés dance
Act III
- Scene I. Action
- Scene II
- Scene III. Storm and shipwreck
- 1st variation (for Gulnare, Mlle Fioretti)
- 2nd variation (for Medora, Mlle Grantzow)
- Andante
- Finale
- Valse de Naïla (for Mlle Grantzow)
Most recent recordings
- “Le corsaire” Music for Ballet Class by Hanna Kim — Adolphe Adam, Hanna Kim, 김한나 (2023) Spotify
- Le Corsaire Piano Music for Classical Ballet Class — Adolphe Adam, Nina Miller (2020) Spotify
New releases via Spotify — surfaced automatically, not editorial picks.

