Semyon Kotko

by Sergei Prokofiev (1891 - 1953).
The opera is set in a Ukrainian village in 1918. The revolutionary Bolshevik government in Moscow has made peace with Germany, but much of the Ukraine is still under German occupation. The Red Army is advancing, supported by scattered revolutionary partisan units. They are opposed by the Germans and Haydamak-members of a calvary detachment loyal to a reactionary Ukrainian nationalist.

ACT I

Prelude

Scene 1: Outside Semyon's cottage at night

Semyon has returned to his village after four years as a gunner in the Russian army. He imagines his reunion with his old mother, but when she comes to the door his carefully rehearsed words fail him and they both weep.

Scene 2: The yard of Semyon's cottage

Semyon is gossiped about and admired by the villagers, and his sister Frosya runs to fetch his fiancée Sofya (Sonya), daughter of the rich peasant Tkachenko. The sailor Tsaryov, with his girlfriend Lyubka, and Remeniuk, head of the village Soviet, introduce themselves to Semyon and allocate him his share of the pre-revolutionary Klembovsky estate. When Frosya blurts out Semyon's wish to marry Sofya, Remeniuk and Tsaryov agree to act as matchmakers for him, according to custom. Tkachenko had earlier resisted his daughter's marriage to Semyon, but while he was a sergeant major in Semyon's battery during the war he had been saved from trouble by Semyon and had promised that Sofya would be his wife. Frosya is wooed by the young lad Mikola. Semyon, his mother and Frosya wonder if Tkachenko will now receive the matchmakers.

ACT II

Two rooms in Tkachenko's house. Tkachenko grumbles, while his wife Khivrya, and Sofya are excitedly waiting for the matchmakers. Remeniuk and Tsaryov come to ask formally for Sofya's hand for Semyon. Tkachenko is reluctant: he believes the Revolution will eventually fail, and with the restoration of the old order he will be able to do better for his daughter than the son of a peasant. When Semyon arrives with other villagers the betrothal ceremony continues, but is interrupted by the appearance of three German soldiers, sent to requisition food from the village. Tsaryov and Remeniuk ply them with food and drink and stealthily remove their weapons and the requisition order. The Germans leave, threatening reprisals. Foreseeing trouble ahead, Remeniuk suggests that the Bolsheviks leave the village and hide in the steppes; before leaving, he entrusts the papers listing the division of the Klembovsky estate to the old man Ivasenko. Tsaryov stays behind to be with Lyubka.

ACT III

A warm summer night just before dawn; a garden and street adjoining Tkachenko's house Sofya tells Semyon of an ominous dream she has had, and Semyon tries to calm her. Tkachenko interrupts, sending Sofya back indoors, and insisting that the marriage cannot take place until the autumn. Tsaryov and Lyubka pass by, then Mikola with Frosya. As they walk away, Tkachenko reappears: he is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Germans.

Distant troop movements are heard as the village is surrounded. Tkachenko gives the Haydamaks the names of the Bolsheviks who have remained in the village. Mikola overhears this, but is not in time to warn Tsaryov, who is seized by the Haydamaks and hanged with Ivasenko. Tkachenko entertains the German commander Von Wierhof, and his workman introduces himself to Von Wierhof as the former landowner Klembovsky. As they drink together to the restoration of the monarchy, Tkachenko gives Von Wierhof a list of 'unreliable' peasants: Semyon's name heads the list. Sofya manages to warn Semyon, who escapes with Mikola, after rescuing the bodies of Ivasenko and Tsaryov. Lyubka has gone mad, refusing to believe that Tsaryov is dead. The Germans burn down Semyon's cottage. As the blaze spreads the village is seized with horror and panic.

ACT IV

Scene 1: A clearing in the woods at night

Semyon and Mikola, bearing the bodies of their murdered comrades, have reached the partisan group commanded by Remeniuk. Remeniuk mourns Ivasenko and Tsaryov, and the partisans solemnly bury the bodies in the forest.

Scene 2: Some months later, in autumn.

Semyon is giving his fellow partisans a lesson in gunnery. Frosya arrives from the village and tells of the reprisals and atrocities that have been taking place. She also reports that Tkachenko is going to marry off Sofya against her will to Klembovsky. Semyon wants to go immediately to save her, but Remeniuk restrains him: the partisans are ill prepared for fighting, and must await orders from the Red Army. Semyon decides to go alone, but finds he cannot abandon his comrades. An order is providentially received from the Red Army command: the partisans are to create panic in the village to prepare for the army advance. Semyon and Mikola set off with grenades and a machine gun.

ACT IV

A square in front of the village church

Semyon's mother and a blind bandura player lament the troubles of the Ukraine. Sounds of a distant battle are heard. Von Wierhof, Tkachenko and Klembovsky enter the church, followed by Sofya, who is escorted to her forced marriage by two Haydamaks. As the service begins, Semyon and Mikola appear. Shouting a warning to Sofya to take cover, Semyon hurls two grenades into the church, but he and Mikola are seized and captured by the Haydamaks. As the dazed and wounded Germans emerge from the church, Semyon and Mikola are identified and sentenced to be shot immediately. Tkachenko gloats over their fate: still convinced that the Bolshevik revolution is doomed, he despises Semyon's stupidity in thinking he could ever have married Sofya, who is worthy of marrying a wealthy landowner. But as Tkachenko taunts Semyon, Von Wierhof receives orders to retreat. The Germans hastily withdraw from the village and it is gradually infiltrated by partisans led by Remeniuk. Tkachenko is arrested and taken off to execution. Semyon and Sofya, Mikola and Frosya are re-united and look forward to their weddings.

Remeniuk reminds them that the battle is not yet over, and as a unit of the Red Army enters the village, all dedicate themselves to the struggle for the freedom of the Ukraine and its people.