Dom Sébastien, Roi de Portugal

Opera by Gaetano Donizetti (libretto by Augustin Scribe), first produced at the Paris Opéra, France, on 13 November 1843. It tells the story of a crusade against the Moors led by the king of Portugal, Dom Sebastian. Although defeated by the Moors, Sebastian is saved by the amorous Zayda. Sebastian returns to Spain to find the throne has been usurped by his uncle, who throws the couple into prison; they are shot when they try to escape.