Le pont de Lody

The opera is a fait historique, a genre popular during the French revolutionary era, often portraying contemporary events on stage.

The reviewer for Le Censeur Dramatique suggested that the theatre had taken stage realism a little too far in the battle scenes: "Never has an assault on a fort, in a theatre, caused such a terrifying racket; there were bronze cannons on the stage, firing continually, something never seen before, which frightened a large number of the audience.

These explosions produced so much smoke that it was impossible to make out anything on the stage or in the auditorium and cries of "Open the boxes!"

The Austrian commander of the fort of Lodi abducts the young Italian Corine under the pretext of saving her from the invading French army.

When he refuses, they hold a council of war and all vote for a direct attack with the exception of one officer who fears it will cost too much blood.