Prokofieff, Serge

Semyon Kotko (1939)

Duration: 140 minutes
Opera in five acts

Libretto by the composer and Valentin Katayev, after Katayev's novel 'I am a Son of the Working People' (R)

Scoring
4S,S(or high M),M(or S),3C,6T,BBar,4Bar,2B9or Bar),6B;chorus 2.picc.2.corA.2.bcl.2.dbn-4.3.3.1-timp.perc:tgl/wdbl/tamb/SD/BD/ cyms/tam-t-harp-strings On and off-stage bands: 2hn.2tpt,picctpt.3trbn.tuba-perc:SD/BD/alarm bell/frame dr/cuckoo-folk lute-concertina-gtr This work is represented by Boosey & Hawkes in the UK, British Commonwealth (excluding Canada), Republic of Ireland, mainland China, Korea and Taiwan.
Abbreviations (PDF).

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the UK, the countries of the Commonwealth (excluding Canada), Republic of Ireland, mainland China, Korea and Taiwan.

World Premiere
6/23/1940
Moscow
Serafima Birman, director
Conductor: Mikhail Zhukov
Company: Stanislavsky Opera Theatre

Roles

Semyon Kotko	Tenor
Semyon's mother	Mezzo Soprano
Frosya, Semyon's sister	Soprano
Remeniuk, chairman of the village Soviet	Bass
Tkachenko, a former sergeant-major	Bass
Khivrya, Tkachenko's wife	Mezzo Soprano
Sofya, Tkachenko's daughter	Soprano
Tsaryov, a sailor	Baritone
Lyubka, Tsaryov's fiancée	Soprano
Mikola, a young lad	Tenor
Ivasenko, an old man	Bass
Workman, former landowner Klembovsky	Tenor
German soldiers, Haydamaks, women, old men, Semyon's companions

Time and Place
1918, Ukraine

Synopsis

At the end of the First World War, Lenin’s Bolshevik government has made peace with Germany but the Western Ukraine is still occupied by the Germans in alliance with counter-revolutionary Ukrainian nationalists. The peasant-soldier Semyon Kotko returns to his home village. Semyon hopes to marry Sonya, daughter of the rich peasant Tkachenko, whose life he saved in the war. Semyon’s mother and his sister Frosya send the traditional matchmakers but Tkachenko is not eager to accept such a poor son-in-law. Three Germans arrive to requisition food, but they are made drunk by the villagers and leave, threatening revenge. The communists of the village soviet, Semyon’s friends, decide that all revolutionaries should hide in the steppe. As Germans and nationalists arrive, Tkachenko decides to prevent his daughter’s marriage to Semyon. He names several revolutionaries who are brutally hanged and lists other dangerous peasants, including Semyon. Semyon and Frosya’s lover Mikola escape as the Germans set light to Semyon’s mother’s cottage. In the forest at night, Semyon and Mikola meet up with the communist partisans and together they vow to retrain and take the village back. After months in hiding, Frosya bring them news of further atrocities. Moreover Tkachenko is planning to marry Sonya to the pre-revolutionary landowner. The Red Army is advancing and the partisans must prepare the village for liberation. Semyon and Mikola set out in advance and arrive as Sonia is being forced into the church. There is a fight, and Semyon and Mikola are captured and prepared for execution. Suddenly, the Germans are ordered to retreat as the Red Army is near. The other partisans arrive, Tkachenko is taken off to be shot, the happy couples are reunited, and all prepare for the revolutionary struggle ahead for a free Soviet Ukraine.

Moods
Dramatic, Romantic

Subjects
History, Politics, Society

Recommended Recording
Tatiana Pavlovskaya/Ekaterina Solovieva/Viktor Lutsiuk/Genady Bezzubenkov/Kirov Opera and Orchestra/Valery Gergiev
Philips 464 605-2 (2 CDs)

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