Lotario

Before the action begins, Berengario had ruled Italy together with Adelaide's husband, but desiring all the power for himself, Berengario had Adelaide's husband poisoned and then tried to force her to marry his son Idelberto, who loves her. Adelaide refused, and now, as Queen of Italy, she has taken refuge in a fortress in Pavia. Berengario is full of ambition and rage and has sent his son Idelberto to storm the walls of Pavia. He receives news that the German King Lotario is on his way with an army to protect Adelaide. Matilde, Berengario's wife and fully his match in ambition and rage, announces that she has bribed Adelaide's soldiers to open the gates of Pavia to their forces. Her son is truly in love with Adelaide and begs his parents not to do anything that will endanger her, but Matilde will not be moved – Adelaide must marry Idelberto or face death. In the castle at Pavia, Adelaide receives the German King Lotario, who has not only brought his army to her aid but loves her too. She accepts his aid and urges him to fight Berengario and Matilde. He will do so, he says, if she will repay him with her love (Aria:Rammentati, cor mio). Clorimondo, Berengario's general, appears to Adelaide and tells her she must either marry the son or be killed by the father (Aria:Se il mar promette calma) but Adelaide puts her trust in Lotario (Aria:Quel cor che mi donasti). Berengario takes Pavia easily owing to the treachery of Adelaide's troops but she adamantly refuses to marry his son.…

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