Act 1 Rodelinda (opera)

senesino, created role of bertarido

alone, rodelinda mourns loss of husband. grimoaldo enters , proposes marriage her; offers throne back, , confesses love her. angrily rejects him.(aria: l empio rigor del fato .) eduige tells grimoaldo has become treacherous king; answers treacherous sake of justice, referring fact refused marry him , he, @ garibaldo s instigation, rejecting her. grimoaldo gone, scheming garibaldo, has professed love eduige, offers bring grimoaldo s head. declines, swears revenged eventually.(aria: lo farò, diro: spietato ). alone, garibaldo details plan use eduige him take throne himself.(aria: di cupido impiego vanni. )

meanwhile, bertarido reads inscription on own memorial.(aria: dove sei, amato bene? ) along unulfo, watches hiding rodelinda , flavio lay flowers @ memorial. garibaldo enters , offers rodelinda ultimatum; either agrees marry grimoaldo or flavio killed. rodelinda agrees, warns garibaldo use head step throne. bertarido, still watching, takes rodelinda s decision act of infidelity. grimoaldo tells garibaldo not worry rodelinda s threat; under king s protection, have fear? unulfo, meanwhile, tries comfort bertarido, bertarido unconvinced.