Le Corsaire at Lyric Theatre, QPAC

Inspired by Lord Byron’s epic poem, The Corsair, which sold ten thousand copies on the first day of publication, this three-act ballet was first performed at the Bolshoi in 1856. It’s a swashbuckling, romantic tale of pirates, slaves and oriental intrigue and is typical of the exotic and ambitious ballets created during the Tsarist era. It is also one of the most spectacular (and expensive!) ever mounted by the Bolshoi and its many famous set pieces provide the perfect showcase for the company’s stars, the soloists and its magnificent corps de ballet.

This extraordinary work, which the Bolshoi regards as one of the signature pieces of its exceptional repertoire, has never before been seen in Australia, another coup for Brisbane.