Set in the exotic surroundings of the Ottoman Empire and with a narrative encompassing abduction, murder and shipwreck, Le Corsaire is a swashbuckling pirate drama that delights for its spectacular nature and which includes some of the most bravura male dancing in the ballet repertoire. The work’s evolution has been a complex one, its libretto and choreography subject to numerous revisions since its first appearance in Paris in 1856, and in this English National Ballet production – the first British staging of the work – former-ballerina-turned-choreographer Anna-Marie Holmes adapts the 1974 Petipa-Sergeyev Kirov version to create ‘brisk, stylish entertainment’ (Guardian) that is visually enhanced by Hollywood designer Bob Ringwood’s ‘superb’ (Daily Telegraph) Orientalist sets and costumes. First-rate dancing by the company and its soloists – including Alina Cojocaru’s ‘radiant performance’ as Medora (Independent), Yonah Acosta’s ‘vividly drawn and villainous’ Birbanto (Financial Times) and Vadim Muntagirov’s ‘compelling’ (Daily Telegraph) portrayal of Conrad – underscores the ‘roaring, madcap success’ (Financial Times) of this production. Medora: Alina Cojocaru Conrad: Vadim Muntagirov Gulnare: Erina Takahashi Lankendem: Dimitri Gruzdyev Ali: Junor Souza Birbanto: Yonah Acosta Pasha: Michael Coleman Pasha Assistant: Juan Rodriguez Lead Villager: Nancy Osbaldeston Orchestra of English National Ballet Recorded live at English National Ballet, August 2014 Catalogue numbers: OA1147D (DVD) / OABD7153D (BLU-RAY) Release Date - May 2015 More information here: DVD - http://www.opusarte.com/details/OA1147D Blu-Ray - http://www.opusarte.com/details/OABD7153D DVD and Blu-Ray available now: Amazon UK - https://amzn.to/2CvIE9g Amazon DE - https://amzn.to/2Ezx5AA Amazon US - https://amzn.to/2SabDVf Royal Opera House Shop - http://bit.ly/2S8xpJa Presto - http://bit.ly/2OJeJln MDT - http://bit.ly/2EEyXIi Europadisc - http://bit.ly/2EDKqYo

• published: 17 Feb 2015
• views: 12963