Composed in October and November 1896, with a revision in January 1897, the premiere was given on 20 March 1898[1] in Brno under the baton of Leoš Janáček.
The four musical scenes describe the story of a woman who poisoned her husband and married another man shortly afterwards.
The wife feels guilty and commits suicide at the end by jumping and drowning in a river.
One day a wild dove alights on the grave of the dead man and its piteous cooing constantly reminds the woman of her guilt.
Finally, unable to bear the weight of her conscience, the murderess takes her own life.