ACT I - The Feldmarschallin’s bedroom

The Marschallin Marie Thérèse, wife of the Feldmarschall Prince Werdenberg, has spent the night with her lover, the 17-year-old Count Octavian Rofrano (whom she calls by the pet name of Quinquin).

They are exchanging endearments when they are interrupted by the Marschallin’s little servant, Mohammed, bringing breakfast. Octavian hides so hastily that the Marschallin has to remind him to take his sword.

Octavian delights in the Feldmarschall’s absence but the Marschallin alarms him by recalling an occasion when he returned home unexpectedly. Octavian hides again as a voice is heard outside. The Marschallin realizes that the man approaching is not her husband but her cousin, Baron Ochs.

Octavian reappears, disguised as ‘Mariandel’, a girl in the Marschallin’s service. Before ‘Mariandel’ can escape, Ochs pushes his way in.
Ochs explains the purpose of his visit: he proposes to solve his financial problems by marrying Sophie, daughter of the newly ennobled Faninal, an immensely rich man said to be in failing health. Ochs needs the Marschallin’s help in finding a well-born emissary to deliver the marriage proposal with the customary silver rose. He also wants to consult her notary.

As the Marschallin is discussing her morning arrangements with the Major-Domo, Ochs makes several crude passes at ‘Mariandel’; the Marschallin questions such behaviour on the part of a bridegroom, but Ochs likens himself to a natural hunter, recounting his various seduction methods.

Ochs asks if he may have ‘Mariandel’ as a maid for Sophie, noting ‘her’ apparent good lineage and guessing that she may not be the country girl she seems; he confides in the Marschallin that he has a bastard son, Leopold, who is his personal servant.

The Marschallin sends ‘Mariandel’ to fetch a portrait of her cousin Octavian, suggesting that Ochs might like to have him as his rose-bearer. Ochs is struck by Octavian’s likeness to ‘Mariandel’, who escapes as a crowd of petitioners and household staff arrive for the Marschallin’s morning levée.

While Ochs argues with the notary and the Marschallin’s hairdresser starts work, three noble orphans solicit alms; Valzacchi and Annina (a pair of scandal-mongers) receive short shrift; and an Italian tenor sings an aria. The second verse is interrupted by a heated exchange between Ochs and the notary, who objects to Ochs’s wish to write into the marriage contract a large ‘wedding gift’ to Ochs from the bride.

The Marschallin tells the Major-Domo to end the levée. Ochs enlists the services of Valzacchi and his friend to procure ‘Mariandel’ for him and his son Leopold brings the Marschallin the silver rose.

Alone, the Marschallin reflects that, like Sophie, she was made to marry straight out of the convent and that soon she will be old ‘Princess Resi’.

Octavian returns, dressed in his own clothes. The Marschallin’s melancholy makes him uneasy, and he fears she is rejecting him. The Marschallin tries to explain the passing of time to Octavian;
she senses that soon Octavian is bound to leave her for a younger woman.

Octavian leaves dejectedly; the Marschallin realizes she has let him go without a kiss. She sends her servants after him but they are too late: he has ridden off. She calls Mohammed and, after telling him to take the silver rose to Octavian, falls into a reverie.

In the Faninal household, everyone awaits the arrival of the rose-bearer. Faninal’s Major-Domo tells him it would be bad form to be in the house when the rose arrives, so he leaves.

Sophie tries to say a prayer of thanksgiving for her good fortune in having a bridegroom but she is distracted by, Marianne, who describes Octavian’s arrival.

Octavian enters and presents Sophie with the rose. The pair are immediately drawn to each other. They settle down to talk. Sophie tells Octavian that she knows all about him, and expresses her excitement about getting married. Octavian is enchanted by her.

They are interrupted by the arrival of Faninal with Baron Ochs and his retinue. Ochs’s boorish behaviour upsets Sophie. Faninal and Marianne try and tell her how grateful she should be, while Ochs regales Faninal with the story about Octavian’s alleged bastard sister.

Sophie is furious that Ochs is to be her husband. Faninal wishes the local bourgeoisie could see him sitting with Count Rofrano and Baron Ochs. Octavian is deeply offended at Ochs’s condescension.

Sophie’s embarrassment and resistance to Ochs’s advances only delight him even more, and he sings her a passage from his favourite song, attempting to flirt with her. He goes off to discuss business with Faninal and the notary.

Octavian and Sophie are left with Marianne. Sophie begs Octavian to save her from Ochs. The Major-Domo enters with the news that Ochs’s servants are drunk and rampaging through the house in pursuit of Faninal’s maids.

In the confusion Octavian and Sophie are left alone. Octavian says he will help Sophie if she will help herself: she must speak for both of them.

They realize they love each other. However, the couple have been seen by Valzacchi and Annina, who alert Ochs to what is going on. Chaos ensues. Octavian announces that Sophie has no intention of becoming Ochs’s wife.

Ochs ignores him, ordering Sophie to go with him to sign the marriage contract. Octavian challenges Ochs to a duel. He inflicts a minor wound to Ochs’s arm and Ochs bellows wildly.

The horrified Faninal arrives. He commands Sophie to marry Ochs or be put in a convent for the rest of her life. Sophie is taken away and Octavian leaves.

Faninal fusses over Ochs, then leaves his guest, who, alone, muses with increasing good humour over the satisfactory turn of events.

Annina appears, bringing Ochs a secret message from ‘Mariandel’, who proposes an assignation the following evening; he tells her he will dictate the answer after dinner and meditates on the pleasures that await him.