from Act II of the Italian opera
L'Arlesiana by Francesco Cilèa
Libretto: Leopoldo Marenco
Role: Federico, son of Rosa Mamai, in love with a woman from Arles
Voice Part: tenor Fach: spinto tenor
Setting: on the banks of Vacares pond in the region of Camargue, the end of May, late 1800's, Italy
Synopsis: Federico has run away from home after finding out that his beloved girl from Arles has betrayed him with the stable boy. He is found by Baldassarre and L'Innocente but the former leaves to tend the flocks and the latter falls asleep. As L'Innocente falls asleep, he mentions a line from a story told earlier about a goat. This comment sets off Federico and he despairs over his lost love.