A romantic, strong-willed, and beautiful-voiced girl named Alevtina (Alka) falls in love with a married man named Sergey. The fire of her love ignites a passionate response in Sergey, who was previously happy in his marriage but now finds himself torn between his loyal wife, Lyuba, and the beautiful Alka. What should Lyuba do – accept and let go, or fight for her husband? Does Alka have a right to her love, even though she was "born late" and her rival got there first? The opera raises universal and timeless issues of love, duty, and rights, which every generation and every individual must face again and again.

Based on the story of the same name by Ivan Kataev.