The young Katerina Ismailowa, from a poor background is unhappily married to the rich provincial merchant, Sinowi. After 5 years, the marriage is still childless, and Katerina suffers from a lack of affection of her husband. The daily accusations and innuendoes from her tyrannical father-in-law Boris, who supervises the family, also set the young lady off. Through the hiring of the servant Sergej, the daily nagging is abruptly interrupted. Katerina is warned of Sergey, and even has to witness him taking part in a collective rape, and still unresistingly falls under his spell.

The fact that Sinowi is away from home for long periods of time, allows Sergei and Katerina countless undisturbed nights of love. One night however, the two are surprised by Boris, who then furiously whips Sergej publicly. In view of this cruelty, Katerina decides to kill Boris, and serves him a plate of mushrooms laced with rat poison, which he eats with great relish. Shortly thereafter, Boris dies.

The two lovers Katerina and Sergei are surprised one night by the returning Sinowi. They unceremoniously kill him and hide his body in the cellar. A while later, Katerina and Sergej decide to marry and organize a big wedding party. In the meantime, a drunken builder finds the body of Sinowi and alarms the police, who interrupt the wedding party and arrest Katerina and Sergej.

Despite Sergej and Katerina’s punishment of forced labor, Katarina’s love for Sergej remains strong. Sergej however attempts to win the favor of Sonjetka, a pretty fellow prisoner. When Katerina notices that Sergej is chasing her, she kills herself and her rival.

© Vienna State Opera