Music by Adolphe Adam, arranged by Riccardo Drigo
Choreography after Marius Petipa

World Premiere: (of complete ballet) Paris Opera, 1/23/1856
Original Cast: Carolina Galetti Rosati (Medora), Demenico Segarelli (Conrad)
ABT Premiere: Civic Opera House, Chicago, Illinois, 12/25/62
Music by Cesare Pugni, Riccardo Drigo, and others, orchestrated by John Lanchbery
Choreography by Rudolf Nureyev, from the original by Joseph Mazilier, revised by Marius Petipa
Cast: Lupe Serrano, Rudolf Nureyev


The pas de deux from Le Corsaire is one of the most famous in all of the classical ballet repertoire. In the repertory of almost all ballet companies, large and small, and performed by nearly every classically-trained dancer from advanced student to prima ballerina and premier danseur, this show-stopping duet is an audience favorite whenever and wherever it is danced.
At this point in the story, Conrad the pirate has rescued Medora, a Greek slave girl from sale to a Pasha's harem and taken her to his underground grotto; where, having fallen in love with her, they dance this pas de deux in celebration of her rescue.
Le Corsaire, with choreography by Joseph Mazilier, received its world premiere at the Theatre Imperial de l'Opera, Paris on January 23, 1856 danced in the presence of the Emperor Napoleon III, by Carolina Rosati (Medora), and M. Segarelli(Conrad).