Prokofiev began the work in 1940, and it was in rehearsal that year, but World War II halted production of the opera.

Don Jerome intends his daughter Louisa to marry the vain, wealthy and ugly fish merchant Mendoza.

By the quayside - where fisherwomen are praising the quality of the fish caught in Mendoza's boats - Louisa encounters her friend Clara, who has also run away from home and intends to seek sanctuary at the nunnery.

Don Jerome is rehearsing some amateur musicians (A trio of trumpet, clarinet and bass drum).

He sends back his consent with both messengers and arranges for a great feast later that evening to celebrate.

The monks then switch to a hymn that extols fasting and abstinence, to a tune that is a slower variant of the earlier drinking song.

Enter Mendoza and Antonio who by lavish bribery gain the monks consent to marry them to their loves.

At Don Jerome's feast, the host is increasingly amazed, exasperated and infuriated as the successive arrival of the newly-weds makes it clear that his plans have gone completely awry.