Much applause for Prokofiev opera premiere in Dresden

A feast for the ears and the eyes: the Semperoper has landed a success with its new production of Sergei Prokofiev's opera "The Love for Three Oranges". At the premiere, the soloists, chorus and the Sächsische Staatskapelle conducted by Erik Nielsen received long and hearty applause.

The production by Evgeny Titov scored points not least with its impressive stage design (Wolfgang Menardi) and the enchanting costumes by Emma Ryott. Among the soloists, Georg Zeppenfeld as King Treff, Aaron Pegram (Truffaldino), Flurina Stucki (Fata Morgana) and Alexandros Stavrakakis (Sorcerer Tschelio) stood out in particular.

Depressive prince takes center stage

The opera is based on a fairy tale by the Italian playwright Carlo Gozzi and was adapted by the Russian director and actor Vsevolod Meyerhold at the beginning of the 20th century, adding surrealistic elements. Prokofiev used this version for the libretto, which he wrote himself. The premiere took place in Chicago in 1921.

Director Titov and his team focus on the depressed prince. He is to be cured through laughter. However, magic puts him in an awkward position because he falls in love with oranges. "Diving into the depths of the human soul is a central aspect of Titov's reading", says the opera's program booklet. Last but not least, psychoanalytical theories by Sigmund Freud have also found their way into the play.