About the work
An opéra comique in one act by Georges Bizet to a libretto by Louis Gallet, based on Alfred de Musset's verse tale Namouna. It premiered on 22 May 1872 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris.
Plot
Caliph Haroun replaces his slave-lover every month, but his current companion Djamileh genuinely loves him. On the advice of his servant Splendiano, she returns veiled as a new dancer; Haroun eventually recognises her and admits his own feelings.
Cultural significance
Despite only ten performances in 1872 and a stage absence until its 1938 revival, Gustav Mahler conducted the work repeatedly at the Vienna Court Opera; Richard Strauss later called it a source of inspiration for his opera Ariadne auf Naxos.