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The Court of Burgundy, 14th Century. Adelia (soprano) is the daughter of Arnoldo (bass) the commandant of archers in the army of Carlo of Burgundy (baritone). Yes, the same Charles of Burgundy from Carlo di Borgogna. Anyway, this Charles is a really meany, and is enforcing a strict law about nobles not marrying commoners. This is problematic because Adelia (a commoner) is in love with Oliviero (a tenor nobleman) and Charles has sworn that if Oliviero were to marry Adelia, he will then have Oliviero executed. It also doesn't help that Arnoldo (in act one) doesn't like Oliviero after discovering him in his daughter's bedchamber. When her father realizes that the two really are in love, he pleads with Charles to allow them to marry in spite of the law, which prompts Adelia to postpone the wedding to save Oliviero from execution, and for her to go temporarily insane. - Phils Opera World
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