1885. For the opera festival it has organized, the small town of Imlingen has invited a famous singer, Maddalena Dall'Orto, who will not only sing at the local opera but will also perform the part of Bach's St. Matthew's Passion at church. The lady is welcomed by an enthusiastic welcome committee comprising the Prince of Imlingen himself. After a while Maddalena, who has come with her friend Rohrmoser, reveals that they are both of German origin. In fact, Maddalena is Magda von Schwartze, a citizen of Ilmingen who has left home in anger a few years before...
—Guy Bellinger