The events in the opera take place at the beginning of the
fifteenth century in Spain, with the background of a revolt
against the King of Aragon by Count Urgel of Biscay In command
of the King's army at Saragossa is the Count of Luna. Years
before, when the Count was a young child, a gipsy woman was
discovered near the cradle of his brother, Garcia. Terrified
servants chased the old woman away, but the boy gradually grew
ill. His father searched for the gipsy, accusing her of
witchcraft, and had her burned at the stake. The woman's
daughter kidnapped Garcia in revenge, intending to throw him
into the flames of her mother's pyre. In her frenzy, however,
she threw her own baby into the fire and has brought up Garcia
as her son. ACT I - THE DUEL Scene 1 - Aliaferia palace in
Aragon Ferrando, Captain of the Guard, stands watch with other
retainers and soldiers, before the palace while Count of Luna
maintains his nightly vigil beneath the windows of Leonora, with
whom he is in love. Upon his companions' request F