The first act opens in the great hall of Solomon’s palace with a brilliant, joyous chorus ("Open the Halls, adorn the Portals”) in praise of the King’s glory.  After the entrance of the high-priest, Sulamith sings a fascinating bridal song ("My own Assad returns"), richly oriental both in music and sentiment, dreamy and luxurious in its tone, and yet full of joyous expectation, with characteristic choral refrain and dainty accompaniment.  The fourth and fifth scenes are full of agitation and unrest, and lead up to Assad’s explanation of his perturbed condition ("At Lebanon’s Foot I met Arabia’s Queen"), a monologue aria of rich glowing color and reaching a fine dramatic climax as it progresses from its sensuous opening to the passionate intensity of its finale.  It is followed by the entrance of the Queen, accompanied by a brilliant march and a jubilant chorus ("To the Sun of the South our Welcome we bring”) and a stirring concerted number, describing the recognition of the Queen by Assad; after which the chorus resumes its jubilant strain, bringing the act to a close.

The second act opens in the gardens of the palace and discloses the Queen, who gives expression to her love for Assad and her hatred of Sulamith in an impassioned aria ("Let me from the festal Splendor").  In the second scene Astaroth, her slave, appears and lures Assad by a weird strain, which is one of the most effective passages in the opera ("As the Heron calls in the Reeds").  After a short arioso by Assad ("Magical Sounds, intoxicating Fragrance"), a passionate duet with the Queen follows, interrupted by the call of the Temple-guard to prayer.  The scene changes to the interior of the sanctuary with its religious service; and with it the music changes also to solemn Hebrew melodies with the accompaniment of the sacred instruments, leading up to the stirring finale in which Assad declares his passion for the Queen, amid choruses of execration by the people.

The third act opens in the banquet-hall upon a scene of festivity introduced by the graceful bee dance of the Almas.  It is followed by the powerful appeal of the Queen for Assad’s life, rising to an intensely dramatic pitch as she warns the King of the revenge of her armed hosts ("When Sheba’s iron Lances splinter and Zion’s Throne in Ruins falls").  In sad contrast comes the mournful chant which accompanies Sulamith as she passes to the vestal’s home ("The Hour that robbed me of him"), and ends in her despairing cry rising above the chorus of attendants as Solomon also refuses her petition.

The last act passes in the desert.  Assad beneath a solitary palm-tree laments the destiny which pursues him ("Whither shall I wend my weary Steps?").  In the next scene the Queen appears, and an agitated duet follows, ending with her repulse.  Assad in despair calls upon death to relieve him.  The sky darkens.  Clouds of sand envelop the fugitive.  The palm bends before the blast as the simoom sweeps by.  The storm at last subsides.  The sky grows brighter; and the Queen and her attendants, with their elephants and camels, appear in a mirage journeying eastward as Sulamith and her lover expire in each other’s arms.  As their duet dies away, the chorus of maidens brings the act to a close with a few strains from the love-song in the first act.