is a grand opera in four acts by Charles Gounod, his last work for the stage. The libretto by Adolphe d'Ennery was offered to Gounod after negotiations with Giuseppe Verdi stalled. The premiere at the Paris Opera's Palais Garnier on 1 April 1881 was a success, Hermosa's patriotic "Debout! enfants de l'Ibérie!" (sung by Gabrielle Krauss) being enthusiastically encored, and praise being showered on the magnificent costumes by Eugène Lacoste and the four settings designed by Auguste Alfred Rubé and Philippe Chaperon (acts 1 and 4), Jean-Baptiste Lavastre (act 2), Antoine Lavastre and Eugène Louis Carpezat (act 3). The piece ran for 34 performances. Recent criticism is less kind, calling it "musty...too reminiscent of his earlier work" or dismissing it as an exercise in spagnuolismo (hispanicism). Roles Synopsis Scene: Spain, at the time of the Moorish occupation Act 1 A public square in Oviedo. In the background the Spanish royal palace. Manoël, a young Spanish soldier, greets his bride Xaïma on their wedding day. The festivities are interrupted by Ben-Saïd, envoy of the caliph of Cordoba, riding up accompanied by his entourage. Since the Moors defeated the Spaniards at the Battle of Zamora they claim a tribute of one hundred virgins each year. Only Oviedo, as a royal seat, has so far been spared. Now Ben-Said has come to demand of King Ramiro II that Oviedo supply twenty virgins as its quota. Xaïma appears in her wedding gown. She mourns the outcome of the battle of Zamora, in which she lost her family. Ben-Saïd is enthralled by Xaïma's temperament and beauty and decides he will keep her for himself and promises to treat her royally. Manoël presents himself as Xaïma's bridegroom; Ben Said decides to prevent the wedding. He goes into the royal palace, Xaïma and the angry Manoël stay behind. Xaïma vows to him that nothing can change her love. The people gather to celebrate the wedding. The king appears, and it is announced that Oviedo will contribute its share of the tribute; twenty virgins will be handed over to the Moors that day. Manoël attempts to arouse the Spaniards to rebellion but the King implores them to accept the sacrifice to prevent further bloodshed. The girls to be delivered to the Moors are chosen by lot, which falls on Xaïma and her friend Iglésia. Xaïma and Manoël are desperate. He curses Ben-Saïd, who continues to desire Xaïma. The