Choreographer José Carlos Martinez: “I have never danced this ballet myself, but I found it interesting to create something traditional rather than a contemporary reworking of a classic. I wanted to bring something uniquely personal to the production while highlighting the brilliance and beauty of the ballet’s most celebrated moments: the enchanted garden scene, the grand pas de deux and the dance of the slaves. I therefore opted for a pure, classical version, as magical and fairytale-like as Giselle or The Nutcracker, while simplifying the dramaturgy of what is otherwise quite a complicated story. My focus is on the love story of the two protagonists, Medora and Conrad. This allows the audience to enjoy both their romance and the adventures of the familiar characters surrounding them…”

“I was inspired by Lord Byron’s poem and Adolphe Adam’s original score, which I adapted where necessary. I placed all the famous numbers at the heart of the ballet, and built my story around them.”

The distinguished Spanish dancer and choreographer José Carlos Martinez’s production of Le Corsaire is a true treat for ballet lovers, all the more so as Le Corsaire enters the repertoire of the Estonian National Ballet for the very first time.