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Synopsis - Act I Act one of Der Rosenkavalier opens in the boudoir of the Marschallin, Princess Marie Therese. The morning sun streams through the windows, and the Marschallin (whose husband is away on a hunt) is joined in her enormous bed by her young lover Octavian. On hearing a young servant boy bringing chocolate for the princess, Octavian dives behind bed curtains until the child departs.
The Marschallin and Octavian resume cuddling momentarily, until another unexpected intrusion. As Octavian again goes for cover, the Marschallin's cousin, the Baron von Ochs enters, trailed by several footmen. Ochs has come to follow up on a letter he has sent to the Marschallin, which she has not bothered to read. She tactfully extracts the details - the Baron is engaged to a young Sophie von Faninal, the daughter of a nouveau riche arms dealer. In exchange for the Baron's title, the Faninal family will bring to his impoverished estate a handsome dowry (hence the title of the opera, which translates to "the rose bearer"). The Baron has come to his cousin to suggest a suitable candidate to present the customary silver rose for his betrothed and her family. Octavian, meanwhile, has come out of hiding in the dress of a lady's maid, "Mariandel," and catches the ever-wandering eye of the Baron. The Baron flirts shamelessly with the disguised Octavian, inviting her (or him) to dinner, and brags about his amorous exploits, one of which resulted in the birth of an illegitimate son, Leopold, who serves as his personal servant. The Marschallin deceptively explains that Mariandel is also a bastard child, the sister of Octavian, Count Rofrano, hoping to keep her lover in the picture. Since the families are related, she suggests his services as the Rose Bearer. The Marschallin's morning activities commence, and among her visitors are Valzacchi, a shady character, and his niece, Annina, who wish to sell their "black papers" detailing the local gossip and scandal. The Marschallin declines, and sends them on to the Baron, who is busy negotiating a prenuptial agreement with a notary. He finds time, however, to have them arrange a tryst with the servant Mariandel (Octavian). Meanwhile, the Marschallin is attended to by three orphans; her hairdressers, who, she complains, make her "look old"; a tenor who sings a lovely aria; and a salesman trying to sell her dogs and a bird. Finally, the entire entourage, including the Baron, leaves, and the Marschallin and Octavian (dressed again in men's clothes) are left alone. The Marschallin recounts her youth, when she was forced into a loveless marriage fresh from the convent, and claims that her affair with Octavian is fleeting. He protests, but she persists, and forces him to leave. After his departure she regrets the absence of a last kiss, and sends the silver rose with her boy-servant Mohammed to Octavian, to take to Sophie von Faninal for her cousin the Baron.
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