Una partita a scacchi; Il Trionfo d'amore; Intermezzi e scene

Set against the mist‑laden valleys of the Aosta region in the 14th century, the drama opens in Renato’s ancient castle, where a solitary figure wrestles with the quiet thrum of autumn rain and the restless chatter of distant villagers. In a lyrical prologue that blends poetry with the rustle of old tapestries, the audience is drawn into a world where the very air seems to echo with stories of forgotten knights, whispered love, and the strategic tension of a chessboard.

Amid these stone corridors, the meeting of Renato and his compassionate daughter Iolanda sets a gentle but compelling conflict in motion, their exchanges illuminated by the looming presence of the enigmatic Count of Fombrone. As courtly intrigue mixes with the promise of romance, the first act balances the solemnity of medieval honor with the playful underline of fate’s moves, inviting listeners to savor each line as if it were a careful, deliberate play on the board.