The Slave (O escravo, in Portuguese; Lo schiavo in Italian) is an opera seria in four acts, with a libretto by Rodolfo Paravicini based on a drama by the Viscount of Taunay. It was premiered at the Teatro Lirico in Rio de Janeiro on September 27, 1889.

In the background of the romantic plot of this work is the historical movement in Brazil in favor of the abolition of slavery. The libretto of this opera replaces African slaves with native Indians, and the period is changed from the eighteenth century to sixteenth-century Brazil, but the universal meaning is understood by audiences.

Count Rodrigo's son Ameríco is in love with the Indian housemaid Ilara. The Count gets wind of this and sends his son away to join the armada fighting the Tamoio Indians, who are revolting against Portuguese domination. Although much of Gomes' operatic style is influenced by Italian opera of the period, the "Dance of the Tamoios" features a habanera dance rhythm in the bass with a popular, folk-style melody; various arias are modeled on the Luso-Brazilian sentimental modinha style.

Iberê, a slave who was released by Ameríco before he left, is re-arrested and forced to marry Ilara. Although Iberê hopes that they might learn to live together and feels affection for Ilara, she is still deeply in love with Ameríco, and to Iberê's credit he respects her wishes.

Count Rodrigo's property is to be the object of an attack by the Tamoios, and Ameríco returns with the troops to protect the estate. Although Iberê does not want to lose Ilara, he releases her into Ameríco's care, and Ameríco comes to understand the sacrifice that Iberê has made. Ameríco and Ilara escape together. At the beginning of the fourth and last act is an intermezzo entitled "Alvorada" (Dawn), a tone poem describing sunrise in a Brazilian forest, and considered Gomes' finest orchestral writing. The opera concludes as the Tamoios assault the property, insist on taking Ameríco as prisoner, but Iberê commits suicide by stabbing himself rather than reveal Ameríco's whereabouts.

© "Blue" Gene Tyranny, Rovi