Maria, the daughter of the landlord Kochubei, loves the much older General Mazeppa. After the two marry against the wishes of Maria's father, a bitter power struggle ensues: Kochubei accuses Mazeppa of treason to the Tsar, but is subsequently executed himself. When Maria realizes the fatal consequences of her love, she falls into madness. 

Based on a poem by Alexander Pushkin, Tchaikovsky's score combines folk song-like melodies, passionate arias and martial orchestral interludes to create a breathtaking sound experience. With psychological sensitivity, the composer draws characters who increasingly lose their balance: instead of friendship and compassion, ultimately only the law of the strongest rules.

Ian will sing the Drunk Cossack.