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|Startsida | Singers | Creators | Synopsis | Operahouses | My operaworld | My blog - Operalogg | Searchbox |
Music: Sergei Prokofiev. Lyrics:by the composer, after Gozzi .
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First performance in Chicago Opera House on the 30 september 1921.
| Role | Voicetype |
|---|---|
| Klöver king | bass |
| Prince | tenor |
| Princess Clarice | alt |
| Leandro | baritone |
| Truffaldino | tenor |
| Pantalone | baritone |
| Tcelio | bass |
| Fata Morgana | soprano |
| Linetta | alto |
| Nicoletta | mezzosoprano |
| Ninetta | soprano |
| Farfarello | bass |
| härolden | bass |
Advocates of different genres (Tragedy,Comedy, etc) demand to be entertained by their particular favourite. A chorus of The Ridiculous People chase them off and the opera begins.
The kings´s son and heir is suffering from terminal melancholy and while the king will do anything to cure him,the prince´s enemies - including his niece Princess Clarice and prime Minister Leandro,who are secretely engaged to marry - are equally committed to his destruction.The king and his son are protected by Tchelio, Clarice and Leandro by Fata Morgana.The king´s doctors advise him that laughter is the only medicine able to cure the prince and so he orders huge and lavish entertainments. Leandro feeds the prince a diet of Tragic Verse but Clarice is impatient, especially as the clown Truffaldino looks as if he might succeed in bringing a smile to the prince´s lips. Fata Morgana announces that she will attend the festivities.
The prince refuses to laugh at Truffaldino and vomits up the Tragic Verses. He refuses to attend the entertainments, but the clown pushes him out the door. At first, he is unmoved by the jollity and his face remains a picture of misery. However, when Fata Morgana crosses the room, slips on the shiny floor and falls sprawling, the prince burst into laughter. Everyone laughs - except Leandro, Clarice and Morgana, who casts a spell on the prince: he will fall in love with three oranges and spend the rest of his life looking fr them. The prince leaves immediately, followed by Truffaldino.
Tchelio discovers that the prince is heading for Creonte´s castle, where the oranges are kept.Tchelio is unable to break Morgana´s spell but he advises the prince not to open the fruit unless he is near water,and gives him a magic ribbon. The prince and Truffaldino use the ribbon to distract Creonte´s giant cook and they steal the three orange´s and make their escape. However, the further they move away from the castle, the larger the fruits become, and the prince and his clown become exhausted. Forgetting the warning, Truffaldino cuts open the first orange - to reveal a princess who begs him for a drink - and then another- which reveals the same. The clown runs away away screaming, leaving the princesses to die. When the prince wakes, he realizes his hopes are with the last orange;he cuts it open and a third princess -Ninetta - steps out. The Ridiculous People arrive with a bucket of water and save Ninetta from her thirst. Back at the palace, Fata Morgana´s servant Smeraldina turns the princess into a rat and takes her place. When the court arrive they agree that she is the one the prince should marry.
The Ridiculous People lock Fata Morgana into a prison so that Tchelio can return to the palace. When the court enter for the prince´s wedding they are met by the sight of a giant rat sitting on the king´s throne. The soldiers begin to fire at it but Tchelio realizes who it is and turns the animal back into Ninetta. The king now realizes that Smeraldina, Leandr and Clarice are traitors and orders them to be executed. They manage to escape with Fata Morgana and the opera ends with The Ridiculous People drinking a toast to the prince and Ninetta.
Adress:http://www.mogensoperasidor.se/loveforthreeorangesenglish.htm