Prokofiev: The Love for Three Oranges

Set & Costumes by WILLIAM ORLANDI

The latest release in the Arthaus series of DVD recordings from the prestigious Opéra National de Paris is a production of Sergei Prokofiev’s wonderful surrealist fairy-tale opera The Love for Three Oranges. This is the opera that was played all over the world long before Prokofiev’s other mature works became well known. The opera’s fantastic story is particularly well loved, and the famous march, which exists in many arrangements and has been widely used as a symphonic concert piece.

Staged in the large Opéra Bastille, it is a colourful theatrical feast, directed by Gilbert Deflo. Carlo Gozzi’s original 18th Century play L’amore delle tre Melarance uses characters from the Commedia del Arte and incorporates fairy tale elements into the old theatre form to create popular theatre. This mixture attracted Prokofiev as it provided for a spectacle. He looked for stylised characters, pure entertainment, speed, rhythm and power, and he found melodic gestures and instrumental colours to match the characters or visual images. Deflo’s staging takes up this spirit. His production is pure theatre - his characters employ body language derived from the Commedia dell’arte and he uses elements of popular theatre. Conducted by 20th century specialist Sylvain Cambreling and sung in the original French version by superb singer-actors, this production presents a stage performance set in perfect harmony with Prokofiev’s inventive music.

BONUS: Documentary “How to fall in love with three oranges” - interviews with singers, conductor and director explain the music, the staging and their own approach to the roles.

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, DD 5.0, DTS 5.0

Picture Format: 16:9

DVD Format: DVD 9, NTSC

Subtitle Languages: FR, GB, DE, ES, IT

Running Time: 116 mins + 30 mins (Bonus)

FSK: 0