Show Synopsis:
Rose Mamai neglects her mentally challenged son L'Innocente and worries about her older son Federico, who is in love with a woman from Arles whom the family has never met. She asks her brother Marco to find out more about the girl, and he tells her that Federico should marry L'Arlesiana. Metifio comes to speak to Rosa and tells her that he is L?Arlesiana?s lover, who was pushed aside for Federico. Federico is devastated that the girl he loves could be so deceitful. He disappears from home and Rosa tells Vivetta that if she minds him, she should use her womanly wiles to convince him to stay with her. Baldassarre urges Federico to help him with his shepherding work to fight his sorrow, but Federico still laments losing the love of his life. He rejects Vivetta and Rosa tells Federico that she will consent to his marrying L?Arlesiana, but Federico rejects her offer. He reconsiders Vivetta and they begin to prepare for a wedding. Metifio returns and tells Baldassarre that he intends to kidnap L?Arlesiana, and when Federico overhears this conversation, he tries to kill Metifio. After the fight breaks up, night comes upon the household, and Federico deliriously runs up to the hayloft, believing he can hear L?Arlesiana?s cries. He jumps out the window for her as Rosa looks on, unable to stop it.	

Character:
Federico, a young man deeply in love with a girl from Arles.

Song Context:
Federico reads and thinks about the letters l'Arlesiana has sent him while his heart breaks with the knowledge that he will never be able to love her because he is betrothed to Vivetta.	

Fun Facts;
1) This opera was based on the play L'Arlesienne by Alphonse Daudet, which was based on his own short story. 
2) This is by far the most popular aria in this opera. 3) Enrico Caruso sang the role in the original opera performance in Milan in 1897.