1.
Madrid, San Javier Square, outside an inn. It is 1868, and the regime of
Queen Isabel II is under threat from the revolutionary republican movement.
After the orchestral Introducción we meet the innkeeper, Mariana,
chatting in the sun with her lodgers (Escena:"Mi madre me
criaba".) These include a seamstress, Rosita, the republican Don
Luís Nogales and his enthusiastic young supporter Aníbal. A
Savoyard accompanying himself on a barrel organ sings a sad story about a girl
and an unfaithful soldier (Canción:"Marchaba a ser
soldado".) The elderly former palace clerk, Don Florito Fernandez and his
daughter Luisa join Mariana. Luisa's fiancé Javier has recently been
made a Colonel, and he is not paying Luisa his accustomed attentions. Jeromo, a
servant of the monarchist Duchess Carolina whose house is just across the
square, warns Mariana about Nogales' dangerous activities. Luisa leaves for
Mass.Javier just misses her, and is thoroughly scolded by Mariana for his
nonchalent attitude. He sings of his ambition and impatience with the quiet
life of Madrid (Romanza:"De
este apacible rincón de Madrid".) Overseen by the Duchess from
her balcony, Aníbal tries to talk Javier into joining the revolutionary
movement and introduces him to Nogales.

The men leave, and Luisa returns. Mariana strongly advises her to
forget Javier and think about marrying a rich landowner, Vidal Hernando, who
has come to Madrid to look for a wife and is on his way to the inn. Mariana
introduces him to Luisa. She indulges herself in some mild flirtation, but
warns Vidal that she is deeply in love with another man and leaves
(Dúo:"En mi tierra extremeña".) When Aníbal
tells him that Javier is joining the revolutionaries, Vidal has no hesitation
in declaring