Ukraine – COR

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Operas

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G.

Content warning: captivity, sex trafficking, sex work, sexual violence, violence, death

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. is a fictional dramatic opera built on extensive factual research. Set in Ukraine in 1997, it is the story of Oksana, a young woman lured into the world of sex trafficking by a Russian recruiter, Konstantin, who ...

Composer: Aaron Gervais

Librettist: Colleen Murphy

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G.

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Excerpts

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 2, Scene 2

Asa and Sofiya are checking the cards. Pavlo arrives with the news that a priest called from Italy to say that Oksana is alive, but there is no sign of Natalyia.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 3, Scene 5

Sofiya and Yuri consult Asa when Oksana has not arrived as her lettered promised. They are interrupted by Pavlo with news that the priest from Italy is on the phone, and wants to talk to Oksana's parents.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 3, Scene 4

Konstantin breaks into Oksana's room and tries to convince her to leave with him. When this fails, he tries to rape her again but she stabs him. He gets the knife and stabs her before he dies. Father Alexander returns and Oksana dies of her wound, dreaming of home.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 3, Scene 3

Father Alexander discovers the distress call was a set by Konstantin, but Dima decides he can't beat up a priest and lets Father Alexander go back to Brindisi where Konstantin is.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 3, Scene 2

On the eve of Oksana's departure, Father Alexander has to go to pick up another woman in distress. He leaves his knife with Oksana because she is afraid Konstantin will show up. Lyuba and Oksana say their goodbyes.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 3, Scene 1

Pavlo reads Oksana's letter to her parents telling them she'll be home on November 8, her birthday. They are thrilled, and get carried away planning a party for her.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 2, Scene 6

Refugees are trying on clothes, when Dima and Konstantin enter looking for Oksana. Konstantin offers Father Alexander money for Oksana and Clara calls the police; Konstantin and Dima leave before the police arrive.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 2, Scene 5

Father Alexander and Oksana realize they share an attraction for each other, but Oksana is determined to go home and tell her parents what has happened. Konstantin phones the refuge to get Oksana back.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 2, Scene 4

Dima has found Oksana at the refuge, and shows Konstantin a photograph of her as proof.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 2, Scene 3

Screaming, Oksana awakens from a nightmare; Father Alexander comes to her and she admits she may have let Natalyia drown to save herself. The Father counsels forgiveness of herself and others, but Oksana is not convinced that is possible.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 2, Scene 1

Brindisi refugee shelter: Father Alexander and social worker Clara work with the refugees. An injured Oksana arrives and asks for help; Lyubia, who escaped when the boat docked, is among the refugees and recognizes Oksana.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 1, Scene 6

On the Albanian coast the women captives wait for the boat to Italy. Oksana is still defiant, trying to figure out an escape for herself and others. The boat and Konstantin arrive, and Oksana fails to convince him to free her and Natalyia.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 1, Scene 5

Pavlo checks in with Sofyia and Yuri for news; Sofiya and Yuri argue & blame each other for letting Oksana go.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 1, Scene 4

In Greece at a bar, three women are held captive: Konstantin sends Lyubia with a businessman, Natalyia with the Immigration officer who cuts her, and Oksana is bought by Konstantin at auction. Konstantin then offers to the crowd a gang rape just as the police arrive to raid the bar. Instead, he escapes with Oksana and Natalyia.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 1, Scene 3

Sofiya goes to Asa to have her cards read for news of Oksana. The police will not treat Oksana's disappearance as crime, as she went with the men willingly. The cards say Oksana has been robbed of her soul.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 1, Scene 2

In a forest in Romania, Oksana discovers she has been tricked and is now in danger. Konstantin and his partners rape Oksana & Natalyia.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Act 1, Scene 1

Though others are at first suspicious, Russian Konstantin convinces Ukranian teenagers Nataliya and Oksana to come work for him at a hotel in Romania for the summer.

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. – Prologue

Sofiya and Yuri take their infant daughter Oksana to have her horoscope read by Asa, who predicts that "freedom invades her future."