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Rienzi’s sister Irene is about to be abducted by Paolo Orsini and his followers when they are confronted by their rivals, the Colonnas. Adriano Colonna, in love with Irene, attempts to protect her in the ensuing brawl. The commanding presence of Rienzi, when he arrives on the scene, quells the fighting; his friends and the crowd all urge him to take power and bring order to the city.

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Alone with Irene and Adriano (terzet, ‘O Schwester, sprich’), Rienzi tells how he has sworn to avenge his brother, murdered by a Colonna; the motif (sometimes called the Vengeance motif) first heard here is a forerunner of the motif of reminiscence as used in the Ring. Adriano atones for his family’s guilt by pledging himself to Rienzi; in return, he is entrusted with Irene and they sing of their love in an impassioned duet (‘Ja, eine Welt voll Leiden’).

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AÌýsingle sustained note is sounded on a trumpet (first heard at the start of the overture, it returns periodically to symbolize Rienzi’s revolutionary authority). An excited crowd gathers and acclaims Rienzi as their liberator and saviour (‘Gegrüsst’). Refusing the title of king, he tells them that the state should be governed by a senate; he himself will be their tribune.

An effulgent orchestral introduction heralds the Chorus of the Messengers of Peace: a triumphal song by the patrician youths, clad in white silk, celebrating the success of their peace mission throughout Italy. The Colonnas and Orsini, compelled to obey the law just as the plebeians do, conspire together against Rienzi. Rienzi receives the foreign ambassadors and claims for the Roman people the historic right to elect the German emperor.

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A ballet, allegorizing the union of ancient and modern Rome, is performed. Orsini stabs Rienzi with a dagger, but his assassination attempt is thwarted by Rienzi’s steel breastplate. Colonna’s men have meanwhile attempted to seize the Capitol. Senators and people demand death for the traitors. Adriano and Irene plead for Colonna’s life and Rienzi pardons the nobles. In a final ensemble Rienzi’s clemency is praised by Adriano and Irene but condemned as weakness by his friends Baroncelli and Cecco; the nobles plot vengeance while the people hail their leader.

The nobles are preparing to attack Rienzi, who, with the battle-cry ‘Santo Spirito, Cavaliere!’ rouses the people to take up arms. Adriano agonizes over his divided loyalty to his father and to the brother of Irene: ‘Gerechter Gott!’ A grand procession of senators and armed citizens is led by Rienzi, fully armed and on horseback: the battle-cry ‘Santo Spirito, Cavaliere!’ is re-echoed, and there is some heavily scored military music.

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Adriano begs in vain to be sent as an ambassador to his father. He tells Irene that death is calling him, but finally yields to her entreaties to stay and protect her. Irene and the women pray for victory and in due course Rienzi returns in triumph; the bodies of Orsini and Colonna are borne in on litters. Adriano curses Rienzi and vows revenge. Rienzi is borne aloft on a triumphal chariot, crowned with a laurel wreath.

AÌýseries of taps on the timpani open the act in an atmosphere of mystery and conspiracy as Baroncelli, Cecco and some citizens discuss the situation. They deplore Rienzi’s arrogance in interfering with the election of the German emperor: the Germans have, as a result, withdrawn their ambassador from Rome. The new emperor, moreover, is an ally of the pope, who was Colonna’s protector. Cardinal Raimondo has also turned to the pope for protection. Baroncelli alleges that Rienzi sought an alliance with the nobles, offering his sister Irene in return. The crowd demands evidence of this treachery and Adriano, throwing off his disguise, endorses the charge. The conspirators vow to strike at Rienzi during the victory celebrations later that day. As they turn to go, they see a procession of priests and monks, led, to their surprise, by Raimondo; they assume they are entering the church in preparation for the celebratory Te Deum.

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Rienzi enters in festal garb. Adriano baulks at assassinating Rienzi in view of Irene, while the other conspirators are won over by his rhetoric. Suddenly Raimondo appears on the steps of the Lateran to proclaim the excommunication of Rienzi. As his followers desert him, Adriano tries to persuade Irene to abandon him too, but she remains, in her brother’s embrace.

Rienzi prays to God for strength: ‘Allmächt’ger Vater’; the music of his Prayer draws on the dignified, eloquent main theme of the overture. Joined by Irene, he tells her that he has been deserted by everybody; she refuses to leave him for Adriano and they fondly embrace. Rienzi leaves to arm himself and Adriano enters in agitation. As the commotion outside increases, he tries to carry away Irene by force, but she pushes him away and runs out.

Deaf to Rienzi’s pleas, the people, led by Baroncelli and Cecci, try to stone him. They set fire to the Capitol and Rienzi and Irene are seen on the balcony, clasped in each other’s arms. Adriano and the nobles attack the people and try to reach Irene. But as he approaches, the building collapses, burying Adriano as well as Rienzi and Irene.