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Programme Note

Opera in five acts, seven scenes.

Synopsis:
Semyon Kotko, a young Ukranian soldier, returns from World War I. The Russian Bolsheviks have made peace with the Germans, but Western Ukraine is still occupied by the Germans in alliance with the Ukranian counter-revolutionaries. Semyon allies himself with the Bolsheviks, but wants to marry Sonya, daughter of Tkachenko, an influential local counter-revolutionary. Tkachenko disapproves of the union on both political and social grounds and tries to have Semyon executed. But at the last minute, the Germans retreat and the partisans arrive in time to save Semyon. Tkachenko is executed himself and the Ukranians look forward to a future as part of the Soviet Union.