Rodolfo is in love — with the wrong woman, as far as his father, the count, is concerned. So he arranges to put Rodolfo in the path of a woman he deems worthy: Federica, the Duchess of Ostheim.

Alone together, Federica is stunned by Rodolfo’s sudden formality, especially given their long acquaintance. “You call me duchess,” she exclaims, imploring him to call her “Federica” instead. Soon, they’re both taking a stroll down memory lane, in the duet “Duchessa tu m’appelli.”

“Degl'anni primieri le gioie innocenti con me dividesti, divisi con te,” Rodolfo sings: “In the early years you shared innocent joys with me, and I with you.”

“Là dove sorgea dal vergin mio cor la prima speranza, il primo sospir,” Federica responds. “There, the first hope arose from my virgin heart, the first sigh!”

Federica may be in love with Rodolfo — but the feeling ain’t mutual. Will Rodolfo be able to follow his heart? Find out in Giuseppe Verdi’s “Luisa Miller,” starring Ekaterina Semenchuk and Michael Fabiano. It streams for free the weekend of July 31, 2021, starting Saturday at 10 a.m. Pacific: sfopera.com/streaming

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