Summary

The singer begins narrating the scene, and transports the audience to an olden time, where a governor, Georgi Abashwili, rules over his province with an iron fist, and treats his wife and son like the royalty they are, sparing no piaster in his efforts. Beggars and petitioners enter the stage, asking at the palace gate for a decrease in taxes or for a reversal of a court case. The governor and his wife come onstage, escorted through the throng by Ironshirts, loyal to the seat of power. It is Easter Sunday, and the Prince, Arsen, arrives to see he hew nephew, Michael. Arsen slyly mentions the governor’s military failings, foreshadowing the soon to come coup, and Natella is too caught up complaining about slums to pay attention, and the governor is too blinded by power to sense his forthcoming...