[1] The libretto is based on a hugely successful Heimatroman by Wilhelmine von Hillern (1836–1916), Die Geier-Wally [de], Eine Geschichte aus den Tyroler Alpen (The Vulture Wally: A Story from the Tyrolean Alps).

The story is based on an episode in the life of Tyrolean painter Anna Stainer-Knittel, whom von Hillern met.

Von Hillern's piece was originally serialized in Deutsche Rundschau and was reproduced in English as "A German Peasant Romance"[2] in the Cornhill Magazine in 1875.

American soprano Wilhelmenia Fernandez sang this aria in Jean-Jacques Beineix's 1981 movie Diva – a performance at the heart of the thriller.

It is seldom performed, partly because of the difficulty of staging this scene, but Wally's principal aria is still sung frequently.

The story is set in the Austrian Tyrol, where the free-spirited but vulnerable Wally is in love with the handsome Giuseppe Hagenbach.

[1] The village of Hochstoff A shooting contest is being held to celebrate the 70th birthday of Wally's father, Stromminger.

Vincenzo Gellner has his own heart set on Wally and quickly notices that she is clearly infatuated with her father's enemy during the quarrel.

Recognising that Gellner is in love with his daughter, he insists that Wally agree to marry him within a month or leave his house forever.