The Corsair (Il corsaro) is Verdi’s thirteenth opera, following Nabucco, Ernani and Macbeth, but precedingRigoletto. The text was written by Francesco Maria Piave, author of so many of Verdi’s librettos, based on Byron’s poem The Corsair. The story of the opera is, in a nutshell, as follows. Act One: the corsairs or pirates moor their ship ona small island on the Aegean Sea and celebrate their free and successful life. They receive intelligence about the Turkish PashaSeid, ruler of the city of Corone, who intends to attack the island. Corrado, leader of the pirates, rallies his men to war. Before the battle he bids his sweetheart Medora farewell, who pleads with him to stay; however, Corrado must do his duty. Act Two: Pasha Seid’s favourite girl Gulnara loathes the Pasha and the harem is a prison for her. A dervish liberated from the corsairs – none other than Corrado in disguise – is brought in front of the Pasha. Creating a diversion, the pirates set the Turks’ ships on fire. The pirates appear to be winning the battle when the fire spreads from the ships to the harem and Corrado sets off to rescue the women. In the meantime the Pasha’s army gets its act together and eventually wins the battle. The pirates, including Corrado, are captured. Act Three: the Pasha is riddled with doubt: has Gulnara fallen in love with Corrado? His worst fears are confirmed when the girl pleads with the Pasha for the life of the corsair. He shows no mercy. Gulnara visits Corrado in his prison cell. She has bribed the guards and wants to give the him a knife to kill the Pasha. However, Corrado refuses to murder a man in his sleep, so Gulnara takes on the task herself. She confesses her love for Corrado who cannot requite her feelings, but nevertheless rescues the girl and they manage to reach the island of the corsairs. Believing Corrado to be dead, Medora has poisoned herself. The pirate arrives, together with Gulnara; the dying Medora is gripped with jealousy, but Corrado explains himself and the lovers embrace for one last time before Medora breathes her last. Corradothen leaps from a cliff to his death in the stormy sea.