Suor Angelica

The scene opens on a courtyard at the convent, with the sounds of the evening service finishing in the distance. Several of the Sisters are seen arriving late for the service, including the two Lay Sisters (Le Due Converse) and Suor Angelica. Angelica stops to kiss the threshold as she enters the chapel.

The Sisters enter the courtyard in procession to receive the evening’s reprimands from The Monitor (La Zelatrice), and lessons from The Mistress of the Novices (La Maestra delle Novizie.) The Lay Sisters are reprimanded for arriving late and not stopping to kiss the threshold, as is the custom. Suor Lucilla receives a silent work duty as she made the other Sisters laugh during the service and Suor Osmina has been hiding scarlet roses in her sleeves and is sent to her cell. Now the work for the day is finished, and The Monitor informs the Sisters they the evening is free for ‘ricreatevi’ (recreation).

Suor Genovieffa notices that this evening is a special one for the Sisters, as it