from Act I of the Italian opera
Adriana Lecouvreur by Francesco Cilèa
Libretto: Arturo Colautti
Role: Adriana Lecouvreur, the star of the Comédie-Française
Voice Part: soprano Fach: spinto
Setting: backstage at the Comédie-Française, Paris, 1730
Synopsis: The Prince de Boullion and the Abbe de Chazeuil meet the company at the Comédie-Française before the show. Although the Prince is the patron of Adriana's main competition as an actress, Duclos, he compliments Adriana. She replies to the compliments by saying that she is only the vessel through which the muses work.