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Synopsis
Time: Mid-5th century (it was in 452 that the historical Attila destroyed the city of Aquileia)
Place: Aquileia, the Adriatic lagoons, and near Rome
Prologue
Scene 1: The ruined city of Aquileia
Bass Ignazio Marini sang Attila
Attila and his victorious horde have destroyed the city of Aquileia (Urli, rapine / "Shouts, pillage"). They are surprised to see a group of women spared as prisoners of war (Di vergini straniere / "Ah, what is this group"). Their leader, Odabella, asks why the Huns' women remain at home (Allor che i forti corrono / "While your warriors rush to their swords like lions"). Attila, impressed by her courage, offers a boon and she asks for her sword, with which she intends to avenge the death of her father at Attila's own hand (Da te questo or m'è concesso / "O sublime, divine justice by thee is this now granted"). After she leaves, the Roman envoy Ezio asks for an audience and proposes a division of the empire (Avrai tu l'universo, Resti l'Italia a me / "You may have the universe, but let Italy remain mine"). Attila disdainfully calls him a traitor to his country.
Scene 2: A swamp, the future site of Venice
A boat bearing Foresto and other survivors arrives. He thinks of the captive Odabella (Ella in poter del barbaro / "She is in the barbarian's power!") but then rouses himself and the others to begin building a new city (Cara patria già madre e reina / "Dear homeland, at once mother and queen of powerful, generous sons").
Act 1
Scene 1: Some weeks later. A wood near Attila's camp, near Rome
Soprano Sophie Löwe sang Odabella
Odabella laments her late father and (believing him to be dead) also her lover Foresto (Oh! Nel fuggente nuvolo / "O father, is your image not imprinted on the fleeting clouds?..."). When he appears, she is put on the defensive, denying any infidelity and reminding him of the biblical Judith. The couple is reunited: Oh, t'inebria nell'amplesso / "O vast joy without measure".
Scene 2: Attila's tent
Attila awakes and tells Uldino of a dream in which an old man stopped him at the gates of Rome and warned him to turn back (Mentre gonfiarsi l'anima parea / "As my soul seemed to swell"). In the daylight, his courage returns and he orders a march (Oltre a quel limite, t'attendo, o spettro / "Beyond that boundary I await you, O ghost!"). However, when a procession of maidens clad in white approaches, singing the Veni Creator Spiritus prayer (Vieni. Le menti visita / "Come, visit our minds"), he recognizes the Roman bishop Leo as the old man of his dream and collapses in terror.
Act 2
Scene 1: Ezio's camp
Ezio has been recalled after a peace has been concluded. He contrasts Rome's past glory with the current child emperor Valentine (Dagl'immortali vertici / "From the splendid immortal peaks of former glory"). Recognizing the incognito Foresto among the bearers of an invitation to a banquet with Attila, he agrees to join forces with him (È gettata la mia sorte, son pronto ad ogni guerra / "My lot is cast, I am prepared for any warfare" ).
Scene 2: Attila's banquet
Foresto's plot to have Uldino poison Attila is foiled by Odabella, jealous of her own revenge. A grateful (and unsuspecting) Attila declares she shall be his wife, and places the unmasked Foresto in her custody.
Act 3
The forest
Uldino informs Foresto about the plans for the wedding of Odabella and Attila; Foresto laments Odabella's apparent betrayal (Che non avrebbe il misero / "What would that wretched man not have offered for Odabella"). Ezio arrives with a plan to ambush the Huns; when Odabella comes Foresto accuses her of treachery, but she pleads for his trust (Te sol quest'anima / "Foresto, my soul belongs to you"). Attila finds the three together and realizes he has been betrayed. As Roman soldiers approach, Odabella stabs him with the sword he had given her. The three conspirators cry that the people have been avenged.
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