Le Talisman is a ballet in 4 Acts and 7 Scenes, with choreography by Marius Petipa, and music by Riccardo Drigo.
Prologue — In the clouds The gods and spirits descend to meet the Goddess Amravati, Queen of the heavens (Valse des esprits).
She replies "It is today, in accordance with my immortal husband's wishes, that my daughter, the goddess Niriti, must descend to earth, and perhaps may never return."
"To test your heart against the temptations of earthly love," replies Amravati, "and should you fail, you will forfeit your right to immortality."
He bows to the Queen and begs pardon for his tardiness; "A group of mortals dared to attempt to learn the secrets of the poles," he says, "for which I was forced to sink their ships."
Queen Amravati hands Vayou her golden mace, which makes him ruler of the spirits and of all the elements.
"No," replies Amravati, "a talisman lost by a maiden of the air must be freely returned to her by whatever mortal may come to possess it."
Act I — The hut of the old weaver Kadoor Nal is working busily at his loom so that he may meet Nirilya, his betrothed.
The young people begin dancing while the old weaver and some of his guests decorate the hut with flowers and garlands (Danse des amis de Nirilya et Nal).
Noureddin begs the young people to continue their dancing, so Nirilya and Nal perform a joyous dance to the delight of the young Maharajah (Danse orientale), who gives Nirilya a necklace and Nal a purse of gold.
Frightened by the stranger she attempts to flee, but Noureddin holds her firm and demands a kiss.
Enter King Akdar and his daughter, the Princess Damayanti, attended by a magnificent retinue.
Act II — The gardens of King Akdar's magnificent palace in Dehli Servants are completing the preparations for the feast which will prelude the wedding of the Princess Damayanti and Noureddin.
As Noureddin begins to leave to attend the feast a rose-bush springs from the ground and bars his way.
From the center rose-bush comes Niriti in the guise of the Goddess of the Flowers, and from each side appear the spirits of the earth.
Niriti and her retinue of flowers perform dances to entice Noureddin into giving up the talisman (Grand ballabile — La Rose de Bengale), but to no avail.
Noureddin, unable to forget Niriti, confesses that he loves another and must refuse the Princess Damayanti's hand.
The Princess then faints into the arms of her attendants and the enraged King draws his sword; his guards follows suit.
At a sign from one of the slave-dealers dancing begins (Danse des montagnards de l’Himalaya, Pas Katchack).
Vayou presents Niriti to the crowd wrapped in a long veil (Danse sous le voile).
Noureddin is now suspicious that the talisman should be preferred to the wealth he could have offered and feels that there is some mystery connected to it.
He wonders if the slave-owner's tongue might be loosened with wine and, calling his bodyguard Djemil, whispers his orders.
Thus, Vayou becomes increasingly communicative and confides that his slave is really the Goddess Amravati's daughter, and so long as Noureddin possesses the talisman, Niriti must remain on earth.
Act III, tableau II — Some ancient ruins at night Niriti is brought in by the bodyguard Djemil and placed before Noureddin, who orders his men to keep strict watch.
He quickly wrests the weapon from her and, furious that she should hold his love for her so lightly, snatches the talisman from his breast and throws it at her feet.
She begins to wonder whether celestial delights can equal the earthly happiness which Noureddin offers, and which she is about to sacrifice.