Paris, 1730. Backstage at the Comédie-Française, the director Michonnet and the company prepare for performance, in which both Adriana Lecouvreur and her rival, Mademoiselle Duclos, will appear. The Prince of Bouillon and the Abbé de Chazeuil enter, looking for Duclos, who is the prince’s mistress. They encounter Adriana and compliment her, but she says that she is merely the servant of the creative spirit (“Io son l’umile ancella”). The Prince hears that Duclos is writing a letter to someone and arranges to have it intercepted.

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Adriana refutes the Prince and the Abbe’s compliments

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The Metropolitan Opera Archive Broadcast 3/19/1994> Conductor: Roberto Abbado Soloists: Mirella Freni (Adriana Lecouvreur), Stefania Toczyska (Princess di Bouillon), Luis Lima (Maurizio), Sherrill Milnes (Michonnet)
ADRIANA Io son l’umile ancella del Genio creator: ei m’offre la favella, io la diffondo ai cuor…	ADRIANA I am the creative Spirit’s humble instrument; I have steeped my soul in the talents vouch-safed to me…