05/06/2025 RNCM Opera Scenes

The house of the recently departed Buoso Donati

The wealthy Buoso Donati has died, and his relatives are gathered, mourning ostentatiously when really, they are more concerned about what they have been left in his will.  They have heard a rumour however, which passes amongst them, that he actually left everything to Friars of Santa Reparata for charitable works.  They search for the will, eventually finding it and their worst fears are realised.  The false grief of their mourning is replaced by lamentations at the loss of the inheritance.  Young Rinuccio is particularly upset because the money would have meant that he would have been able to marry Lauretta who does not have a dowry.  They ask Simone, the eldest, what to do.  Rinuccio says that the only remedy would be to seek help from Gianni Schicchi, a suggestion abhorrent to the rest of the relatives because he is a commoner.

The house of the Marquis of Conchiglia

The Marquis of Conchiglia has fallen in love with the maid Cecchina.   This is seen as inappropriate because of their different social standing.  Cecchina decides to leave; the two jealous and interfering maids, Sandrina and Paoluccia pretend to help but they have no real interest in Cecchina and want to make trouble for her.  To make the situation even more complicated, the poor Mengotto is infatuated with Cecchina and won’t leave her alone.  Cecchina is preparing to leave when the maids arrive, followed soon after by Mengotto and the Marquis.

The hotel suite of the Waldner family

Count Waldner, a gambler, has brought his family to ruin. His only hope is to find a wealthy husband for his daughter Arabella, while his second daughter, Zdenka, must stay disguised as a boy, Zdenko, so as not to incur the costs of two daughters to bring into society and marry off.

Zdenka has been writing letters to one of Arabella’s suitors, Matteo, in Arabella’s hand.  He is desperate for Arabella to love him otherwise he threatens that he will kill himself.  Zdenka has also to deal with the fact that she herself has fallen in love with Matteo but feels she must put him and her sister first.

Arabella returns from a walk to find presents from her three other suitors, Counts Elemer, Dominik, and Lamoral. Although Zdenka loves Matteo, she begs her sister to favor him so he will not be heartbroken. Arabella replies that the right man for her hasn’t appeared yet—she knows that once he does, she’ll recognize him.

The house of the rich gentleman, Ferramondo

Angelica wants to marry Valerio but her sister-in-law Lucilla (married to her brother Giocondo) has spent all the money, so there is nothing left for her but to enter a convent. She is horrified.  Lucilla feigns ignorance over spending the money and insists that she had nothing to do with the convent idea.  Angelica mistrusts her.  Marina, Angelica’s friend enters and says that Ferramondo is coming (he is the old man, uncle of Angelica and Giocondo who will not fund a dowry).  Marina says that they must leave now to avoid Angelica being sent to the convent.  Lucilla tries to persuade Angelica to stay while Marina encourages her to go.  Lucilla tries to get Angelica to tell her the problem (it seems she is ignorant naïve about spending the money and the convent idea).  Angelica almost manages to tell her, but the situation becomes too dangerous to stay.  Everybody hides.

The dense and overgrown garden of a Hindu temple

The English Officers, Frédéric and Gérald, accompany the excited English ladies, Misses Ellen and Rose into the garden of a Hindu temple. They have forced their way in through the bamboo fence. The young ladies are enchanted, but their governess, Miss Bentson, is less taken with the whole situation. Frédéric tries to give the women an insight into the Hindu culture, though his authority is that of an outsider and the other Europeans are convinced that their own ways are the best. They find some beautiful jewellery, but Frédéric warns them to leave it alone for fear of it bringing bad luck.  Gérald offers to stay and sketch the jewellery while the others return home.

The garden of Count Belfiore

Arminda tells Sandrina (who is really Violante, disguised as a gardener) that she is going to marry Belfiore (Sandrina’s former lover who thinks he has killed her).  Sandrina faints and while Arminda searches for smelling salts, Belfiore is left with Sandrina.  Arminda returns with the salts and meets her own rejected lover, Ramiro, just as Sandrina and Belfiore recognise each other.  All four are confused. The Podesta (in love with Sandrina) arrives with Serpetta (who is in love with him) and cannot discern what is going on and spitefully tells him that Sandrina and Belfiore are making love at the other end of the garden. Belfiore is certain that Sandrina is Violante and Sandrina forgetting her disguise, reproaches him for his infidelity. Nardo (Violante/Sandrina’s servant, also disguised as a gardener) is hopelessly in love with Serpetta.  There is general confusion as all reveal their individual sentiments.