Ruslan and Lyudmila

ACT ONE

Svetozar is holding a sumptuous wedding feast for his favorite daughter Lyudmila and her Chosen One, Ruslan.
Also invited to the feast are the suitors whom Lyudmila has rejected – Farlaf and Ratmir.
Svetozar approves of his daughter’s choice, and Bayan’s wedding song predicts that the young couple are in for a hard time.
At the height of the festivities, all realize that the bride has vanished.
In despair, Svetozar promises his daughter’s hand to the man who brings her back.
Ruslan, Ratmir and Farlaf set off in search of Lyudmila.

Finn who all his life has loved just one woman, Naina, in his attempts to win her love even resorting to magic, eventually discovers at the end of his life that his beautiful and inapproachable Naina is now consumed by hatred for him and wants to take her revenge. She has been unable to love him. And even now, after a long life lived, they continue to bicker and sort out their relationship: Finn maintaining that his love for Naina has been the meaning of his whole life, Naina arguing that love does not exist. In search of proof with which to back up their arguments, they interfere in the fate of the happy couple Ruslan and Lyudmila, forcing them to undergo a whole series of tormenting trials. These trials have begun – Lyudmila has been abducted.

In his search for the abducted Lyudmila, Ruslan meets Finn who tells him of his unhappy love for Naina.
Shocked by Finn’s tragic fate, Ruslan learns from the latter the name of the person who has absconded with Lyudmila – it is the mighty Chernomor.
As they part, Finn warns Ruslan of the danger which might originate from Naina, and urges him to fight for his love.

In the meantime, Naina has promised Farlaf her protection in his search for Lyudmila and battle with Ruslan. Farlaf rejoices at the prospect of a speedy and easy victory.

His search for the lost Lyudmila, brings Ruslan to a sinister spot, which is strewn with human bones. Ruslan is horrified.
A huge head, one of Chernomor’s victims, threatens and mocks Ruslan who, getting the better of his fear, finds the strength within himself to soldier on and continue the fight.

ACT TWO

Naina is waiting for Ruslan to show up. She gathers together seductive and pretty girls, who are to lure and entice traveler Ruslan and deprive him of his willpower.
Ratmir is also here. Suddenly the latter comes across his rejected and forgotten love, Gorislava. Gorislava had spent a long time seeking for her lost Ratmir and this sudden meeting awakens her former sentiments for him. Ratmir is irritated and embarrassed.
The maidens greet Ruslan as a long awaited guest. They comfort him, entertain him, tempt him.
Ruslan is touched by the tears and sufferings of the rejected Gorislava. He first sympathizes with her plight and is then overcome with desire for her.
Only a bit of sharp action from the suddenly appearing Finn saves everyone from committing fatal mistakes.

ACT THREE

In the meantime, Lyudmila is under lock and key in enchanted surroundings, apparently created for her by a certain Chernomor who is in love with her. Ever since she has been abducted, she has undergone trial after trial, the aim being to get her to give up her love for Ruslan.
Lyudmila is deeply unhappy and even attempts to commit suicide.
Ruslan, Ratmir and Gorislava discover where Lyudmila is being kept prisoner. They break into the ‘prison’ in search of the abducted Lyudmila. Victory is close at hand.
Overcoming fierce resistance, Ruslan finds Lyudmila but her appearance and condition horrify him. She does not recognize Ruslan, does not react to anything and cannot move. The awful state Lyudmila is in does not repel Ruslan, on the contrary, he begins to love her even more.
In despair, Ruslan tries to bring her back to consciousness. His attempts are unsuccessful and he decides to take Lyudmila home.

With Naina’s help, Farlaf kidnaps Lyudmila so as to later act the role of rescuer and return her to Svetozar.
Ruslan sets off in pursuit of his again lost bride. Ratmir and Gorislava are at a loss to know what to do and put all their hopes on assistance from Finn.
Finn is crushed by the goings on. He feels guilty because the plot thought up by himself and Naina, has got out of control and now lives are even at danger. He decides to interfere in the situation and help save Lyudmila.

Farlaf takes the unconscious Lyudmila home. Svetozar tries to revive her. But in vain.
Only the suddenly appearing Finn manages to find a way of bringing Lyudmila back to life. Ruslan, Ratmir and Gorislava come running in and witness Lyudmila’s awakening.
Ruslan and Lyudmila are happy, they are back together again.
A stung to the quick and furious Naina leaves Svetozar’s house. In her argument with Finn, she is the loser.