ACT I
Backstage at the Comédie Française
As the actors and actresses are preparing for the evening's double bill, the Prince de Bouillon and his hanger-on, the Abbé de Chazeuil, appear. They ogle the actresses but their principal interest is the actress Duclos, the prince's mistress and chief professional rival of Adriana Lecouvreur.
Adriana appears, practising her lines. She modestly disclaims the extravagant praise of the visitors, explaining that she is only the instrument by which the lines of the poet are transmitted to the audience. Learning that Duclos is in her dressing room writing a letter, the prince orders the Abbé to get hold of it. The stage manager Michonnet is about to confess his love to Adriana, when she tells him she has a lover - a simple officer in the army of the Count of Saxony, who has returned from the war and will be in the theatre to watch her.
Maurizio appears and after a rapturous reunion Adriana asks about his prospects of promotion, unaware that he is actually the Count of Saxony. They arrange to meet after the play and she gives him a bunch of violets as a pledge. As she goes on stage and he goes to his box the prince and the Abbé reappear from different directions, the latter with the letter written by Duclos. It is apparently for Maurizio, making an assignation for midnight, in the villa given to Duclos by the prince. The prince plans to catch his mistress in her apparent infidelity by giving a party in the villa.
The actors and actresses, who overhear this plan, are gleeful at the situation, as they are aware of something unknown to the prince: that his wife has befriended Duclos and often uses the villa for her own assignations. In this case the letter written by Duclos is on behalf of the princess.
Standing in the wings Michonnet listens to Adriana delivering a monologue, assuaging his unrequited love in admiration of her art. Maurizio, having received the letter, is obliged to keep the tryst, as it concerns his political ambitions, but broods over the necessity of having to break his appointment with Adriana. He makes use of a letter which has to be delivered to her on stage to let her know. After the play the prince invites all the company to his party and Adriana accepts, hoping to meet the Count of Saxony and influence him on Maurizio's behalf.
ACT II
The villa in which the prince has installed Duclos
The Princess de Bouillon anxiously awaits the tardy Maurizio. She reproaches him for being late and, seeing the violets in his buttonhole, accuses him of loving another. Quickly he says they are for her, and gives them to her. They are interrupted by the arrival of the prince and the Abbé and Maurizio hides her in a closet, promising to see to her escape. Confronted by the prince and Abbé, Maurizio has to accept their assumption that he has had an assignation with Duclos. The prince expresses gratitude: he was tired of Duclos and glad to hand her over to Maurizio.
Adriana arrives and learns that Maurizio is the Count of Saxony. She forgives the deception, but their reunion is interrupted by an argument between Michonnet and the Abbé. In accordance with the prince's orders that no one is to leave the villa, the Abbé is preventing Michonnet from going, but when Michonnet explains that he has urgent business with Duclos the Abbé tells him that she is in the villa, having had an assignation with Maurizio. Michonnet goes in to see her and Maurizio assures Adriana that it is not Duclos and that his meeting was on urgent political business. He enlists her help in getting the woman away, but tells her she must not learn who she is. Michonnet comes out and confirms that it is not Duclos, though has been unable to identify the lady in the dark.
Setting Michonnet to keep watch, Adriana begins to negotiate with the princess, who remains unseen behind her door. Gradually the two women become aware that they are rivals in love and they exchange jealous words. The princess tries to discover Adriana's identity and Adriana, repenting of her helpfulness, calls for lights to see her rival. However, the princess uses a secret door to escape, dropping a bracelet which is picked up by Michonnet.
ACT III
The Bouillon palace
The princess broods over her unknown rival while the Abbé bustles around preparing a party. His attempts at gallantry are swept aside by the princess. The guests arrive, including Adriana, who is to give a recitation.
The princess recognises her voice and tricks her into revealing her love for Maurizio by pretending he has been wounded. Maurizio arrives and entertains the guests with an account of one of his recent military exploits.
The princess, with malice aforethought, asks Adriana if she knows the identity of Maurizio's latest mistress and Adriana, now suspicious of the princess, produces the bracelet, which the prince identifies as his wife's.
Adriana's recitation is a speech from Racine's Phèdre, which she stresses in such a way as to turn it into a pointed insult to the princess. She withdraws, calling on Maurizio to follow her, but he answers that he will see her in the morning.
ACT IV
Adriana's house
Michonnet comes to visit Adriana who has left the stage and is ill, pining for Maurizio who seems to have abandoned her. Her theatre colleagues arrive with gifts for her birthday and at their request, she agrees to return to the stage.
A box arrives, apparently from Maurizio, containing the bunch of violets, now withered. Deeply wounded at such heartlessness, she smells them and throws them into the fire. Michonnet is convinced it is not Maurizio's doing, but the act of a woman and tells Adriana that he has written to Maurizio who, he is sure, will soon return to her. Maurizio arrives and convinces Adriana that his absence was due to a misunderstanding.
He offers her his hand in marriage, but it is too late: the violets had been poisoned by the princess and Adriana dies in the arms of Maurizio and Michonnet.