La Rondine by Giacomo Puccini, set in the early years of the 20^th century, is another operatic tale of a courtesan seeking true love and happiness. Magda turns away from a lavish life with her protector, the wealthy Rambaldo, to start a new life with Ruggero. On meeting her in a restaurant, he is taken in by her disguise as a simple shop girl, not recognising her as the mistress of his father’s friend, Rambaldo.

Magda and Ruggero move to the Riviera – fulfilling a prediction by a palm-reading poet (Prunier) that Magada would fly south like a swallow (la rondine) to find romance and happiness. However, their money is running out. Ruggero tells Magda he has written to his mother for her consent to their marriage and describes a happy future in his family’s country home. Prunier visits Magda and reveals that Rambaldo would welcome her back.

Ruggero’s mother is delighted he has found a good and virtuous bride, but Magda confesses her past and says she cannot marry him and ruin his future. Ruggero is devastated and Magda heartbroken, but she nevertheless leaves to return to Rambaldo.

At the start of the opera, during a party held by Rambaldo and Magda, Prunier sings a ballad he has written about a girl, Doretta, who refuses the love of a king. Magda composes a second verse, describing how Doretta falls passionately in love with a student.