In spite of difficulties at the premiere, the critic of Nuovo osservatore veneziano noted of Donizetti that "one cannot but recognize a regular handling and expressive quality in his style.

[1] For the first time in 200 years, the opera was presented at the Teatro Sociale of Bergamo in 2018 (native city of the composer), conducted by Alessandro de Marchi.

Nicola, the young shepherd, and his friends find the old man Pietro weeping before by his wife's grave, as he has done many times.

Enrico, now a young man, is on his way home from fishing; he is tired of the simple life up in the mountains and is longing for something more exciting.

Brunone arrives at Pietro's cabin and tells him that the king is dead and that his weak son Guido has taken his place.

When Enrico arrives and learns the truth, they give him his father's sword and he decides to accept his fate.

Elisa enters in the company of Guido's bodyguards who invites her to rejoice in the happiness of marriage.

Guido forces Elisa to change her mourning clothes into the wedding attire and appeals to her to give in to his great love for her.

Pietro and Brunone furiously try to stop Enrico's jealousy from revealing himself as her true love.

Gilberto shows Enrico to Elisa's room with the warning that women are in the world to create disorder.