«Le Corsaire» is one of the most celebrated classical ballets of the 19th century, originally choreographed by Joseph Mazilier to the music of Adolphe Adam. Premiering in Paris in 1856, the ballet tells the adventurous tale of the pirate Conrad, who rescues the enslaved maiden Medora from the villainous slave trader Birbanto. Set against exotic locales, including Ottoman harems and tropical islands, the story unfolds with daring escapes, dramatic confrontations, and romantic intrigue, creating a thrilling narrative that captivated audiences.

Over the decades, the ballet was adapted and restaged by some of the greatest choreographers of the era, most notably Marius Petipa, who created versions for both St. Petersburg and Moscow that solidified «Le Corsaire» as a cornerstone of the classical repertory. The ballet’s rich historical tapestry reflects the fusion of Romantic storytelling, theatrical spectacle, and technical brilliance that defines the golden age of Russian ballet.

Set in the harem scene of the ballet’s third act, the «Pas de trois des Odalisques» is a virtuosic divertissement for three soloists, providing a colorful and exotic interlude in the narrative. Ivan Liška’s 2007 reconstruction for the Bayerisches Staatsballett sought to return the ballet to the authenticity of Petipa’s original vision. Using Stepanov notations preserved at Harvard University, historian Doug Fullington decoded the choreography, allowing Liška to faithfully revive the original steps, patterns, and stylistic nuances.

World premiere on January 23, 1856, at the Théâtre Impérial de l’Opéra in Paris, and on January 24, 1858, at the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in St. Petersburg, revised by Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa