Sz. Prokofjev: A három narancs szerelmese – a Horvát Nemzeti Színház előadása
opera in two acts, in Croatian
Guest performance of the Zagreb National Theatre
This opera, rarely seen on Hungarian stages is a strange, tragi-comical masterpiece by Prokofiev, very much in the vein of commedia dell’arte; both a fine opera and the parody of the genre. Its creation has brought the grotesque tone 
Prokofjev: A három narancs szerelmese (Király: Berislav Puškarić, Herceg: Michael Robert Hendrick, Ninetta hercegnő: Tanja Ruždjak)for the first time in the operatic genre. Jokes and irony interweave not only the plot but the music as a whole, the way you can witness it in the guest performance of the Zagreb National Theatre at Bartók Plus Opera Festival.
The Love for Three Oranges is based on the exotic tale by Carlo Gozzi written in 1761. The protagonist is a melancholy Prince nobody is capable of cheering up. As the story goes, a celebration is organized to make him laugh, but this happens only when the wicked witch, Fatamorgana falls flat in front of him.
The Prince laughing out is cursed by the witch: he will be obsessed by a “love for three oranges” hiding three princesses. He does find them in a desert, but he does not know the oranges can only be opened near water; two of the princesses die of thirst.
The third princess, Ninetta survives, but the Prince can only be happy for a short while: Fatamorgana transforms the princess into a rat. So a Rat is sitting on the throne on the day of the wedding eventually transformed into Ninetta. This is the happy ending to conclude the fast moving line of events...
Set and Costume Design: Simon Beyer
Conductor: Nikša Bareza
Directed by: Krešimir Dolenčić
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