L'Amour de Loin

Act One

In a small medieval castle in the south of France, Prince Jaufré Rudel sits with his lute composing songs. He is testing out different lines, and choosing the best version of each one to express his feelings ("J'ai appris à parler du bonheur"). He is looking for happiness and pleads with the nightingale to tell him the secret to it. His companions interrupt his melancholy with their complaints. Jaufré has been so depressed recently, there is no joy left in him, he has given up drinking, and even given up women.

Jaufré refuses to listen to his friends, instead he imitates their complaints as part of his improvised lute song. He has heard this all before, and their complaints are getting predictable. Jaufré no longer finds joy in such meaningless pleasures. Where he used to enjoy drinking, and sleeping with different women every night, he now only feels a hollowness for that shallow enjoyment. No, that Jaufré is gone.

Now, he longs for something more. He is in love