The score is particularly remarkable for its overture, which depicts the emergence of the four elements out of chaos. It looks back to
Jean-Féry Rebel's ballet Les élemens and forward to
Haydn's overture for his oratorio
The Creation.
Zaïs, a genie, disguises himself as a shepherd to win the love of a shepherdess, Zélide. After a series of ordeals in which Zaïs shows he is willing to give up his magic powers for his love, Oromases, the king of the genies, grants Zélide immortality so the couple can marry.
