In June 2011 the Geneva Opera presented, with the support of the Neva Foundation, the comic opera by Sergei Prokofiev, "The Love for Three Oranges", based on an Italian fairy tale by Carlo Gozzi.

... In May 1918, Sergei Prokofiev left Russia for a tour that lasted 18 years. When he arrived in the United States, he had a project of an opera, inspired by an 18th century Italian comedy, with a healthy dose of surrealism to update it. The Chicago Opera Association commissioned the work, by October 1919 the libretto was written, and on December 30th 1921 Prokofiev conducted the premiere of his work at the Chicago Auditorium Theater, in front of a slightly bemused audience, as puzzled by its neo-baroque dramatics as by its music, which a critic of the time referred to as “Russian jazz with Bolshevik trimmings.” Nevertheless, the premiere was a success.

"The "Love for Three Oranges" is at the same time a very cosmopolitan work and it is 100% Russian, - says Elena Timchenko, President of the Neva Foundation. - It was written in the USA, hence its American dimension. The libretto in Russian, inspired by an Italian 17th century fable, was translated into French - which added European elegance to the production. And Prokofiev managed to fill his work with the gay and festive spirit of the Russian people. This work reflects Russia of yesterday and that of today, and I am delighted that the music lovers in Geneva have an opportunity to appreciate it."

The artistic director of the production is Mikhail Jurowski, a former conductor at the Moscow Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theater.




Partner:Geneva Opera