The Love for Three Oranges (Lyubov k Tryom Apelsiname), a fairytale opera by Sergei Prokofiev: Plot synopsis, character description, and other Prokofiev opera information

The Love for Three Oranges ('Lyubov k Tryom Apelsinam') by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953), a fairy tale opera in four acts, was composed in 1919 in Russian language Libretto was by Prokofiev himself based on "L'Amore delle Tre Melarance" by Carlo Gozzi. The first performance was in Chicago, Chicago Lyric Company, USA, December 30, 1921.

Sergei Prokofiev wrote many operas but The Love for Three Oranges is considered his most successful. The fairytale opera is silly, but has full of fun and humor. The most famous melody is in Act 2, "March."

Major Characters in The Love for Three Apples ('Lyubov k Tryom Apelsinam')

• King of clubs (bass)
• Prince, his melancholic and hypochondriac son (tenor)
• Princess Clarice, the king's ambitious niece (contralto)
• Leandre, Clarice's henchman (baritone)
• Trouffaldino, the court clown (tenor)
• Fata Morgana, evil sorceress (soprano)
• Pantalon (baritone)
• Tchelio, a magician (bass)
• Ninette (soprano)
• Cook Cleonte (bass)
• Smeraldine (mezzo)

Bit Parts, include Linette (contralto), Nicolette (mezzo), Farfarello (bass), Master of Ceremonies (tenor) and the Herald (bass).

Setting is in a theatre and in a mythical kingdom at no specified time.

Basic plot summary of The Love for Three Oranges

Prologue. Spectators argues over what kind of show to see. The herald announces that the king of clubs is desperate because his son is melancholy, an incurable hypochondriac.

Act 1

Doctors tell the king that, the prince, his son will only be cured from hypochondria if he learns to laugh. Pantalon suggests that Trouffaldino might be able to help the prince. The king prepares festivities and dancing for his son.

The evil sorceress Fata Morgana, beating the magician Tchelio at cards, prevents the prince from laughing.

If the prince dies, Clarice will inherit the throne and be queen. She is in league with Léandre, who makes the prince depressed with melancholy plays and poetry. Clarice thinks a direct method is better, either to poison or shoot the prince instead.

Act 2

Trouffaldino is unable to make the prince laugh. The prince does not want to attend the entertainments prepared for him.

The entertainments proceed. Fata Morgana slips, that which makes the prince laugh. Angered, Morgana makes the prince fall in love with three oranges. Taking Trouffaldino with him, the prince sets out to rescue the oranges from the giantess, Creonte.

Act 3

Tchelio helps the prince and invokes the devil Farfarello ordering him to return the oranges from Creonte's kitchen. Farfarello refuses. The prince and Trouffaldino arrive in Creonte's kitchen and were able to steal the oranges.

They recross the desert and are overcome with thirst. While the prince sleeps, Trouffaldino opens two oranges – which turn into the princesses Linette and Nicolette. Trouffaldino can't give the princesses water, they die from thrist. The prince awakes and opens the third orange, which becomes the Princess Ninetta. He falls in love with Princess Ninetta. Ninetta is transformed into a rat by Fata Morgana tranasforms Ninetta into a rat. The witch leaves Smeraldine behind to impersonate the princess. The court comes for Ninetta. The prince recognizes the substitution and is horrified.

Act 4

Fata Morgana and Tchelio fight. Tchelio wins.

The master of ceremonies uncovers the throne and discovers a rat. It is Ninetta, whom Tchelio transforms the rat back into herself, Ninetta. Smeraldine is revealed as an accomplice of Leandre and Clarice. The king orders Leandre, Clarice and Smeraldine be put to death. Fata Morgana helps them escape. The people toast the prince and princess.

Painting image:

Artist Jackie's kind permission - Jackie Black Art

Sources:

Opera, DK Eyewitness Companions (2006)

The Da Capo Opera by Nicholas Ivor Martin (1997)