Act I

August 1572. Paris is abuzz with the royal wedding festivities. The union of the Catholic Marguerite de Valois and the Huguenot Henry of Navarre is poised to quell the religious strife between the two Christian denominations, heralding a much-anticipated era of peace in France. Count de Nevers, a Catholic, hosts guests at his castle and informs them of another expected guest – the young nobleman Raoul de Nangis, whom he recently befriended in Paris. Raoul, a Huguenot, is anticipated to receive a warm reception from Nevers’ Catholic friends, in light of the royal decree proclaiming peace between Catholics and Huguenots.