Prokofieff, Serge: The Love for Three Oranges op. 33 - Symphonic Suite op. 33a (1919) 17'
for orchestra
Scoring
2.picc.2.corA.2.bcl.3(III=dbn)-4.3.3.1-timp.perc(3):t.bells/xyl/ cyms/tam-t/tgl/BD/SD/tamb-2harps-strings
Repertoire Note
The youthful Prokofieff was a master of laughter, absurdity and colour, but nowhere more so than in his enchanting fairy-tale opera, based on the Italian writer Gozzi’s commedia dell’arte satire The Love for Three Oranges. The pantomime-like plot concerns the adventures of a young prince, cursed by a wicked witch and forced to voyage into distant lands in search of three oranges inside each of which is a princess.
In his six-movement symphonic suite, Prokofieff includes some of the loudest and most garish and comical passages of the opera including the music of the clowns, the card-game between the magician and the wicked witch, and the world-famous March. All this bustle and excitement is offset by the lyrical love-music which accompanies the prince’s meeting with the princess of the third orange.
Note by Gerard McBurney
Recommended Recording
Scottish National Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
Chandos CHAN 8729
for orchestra
Scoring
2.picc.2.corA.2.bcl.3(III=dbn)-4.3.3.1-timp.perc(3):t.bells/xyl/ cyms/tam-t/tgl/BD/SD/tamb-2harps-strings
Repertoire Note
The youthful Prokofieff was a master of laughter, absurdity and colour, but nowhere more so than in his enchanting fairy-tale opera, based on the Italian writer Gozzi’s commedia dell’arte satire The Love for Three Oranges. The pantomime-like plot concerns the adventures of a young prince, cursed by a wicked witch and forced to voyage into distant lands in search of three oranges inside each of which is a princess.
In his six-movement symphonic suite, Prokofieff includes some of the loudest and most garish and comical passages of the opera including the music of the clowns, the card-game between the magician and the wicked witch, and the world-famous March. All this bustle and excitement is offset by the lyrical love-music which accompanies the prince’s meeting with the princess of the third orange.
Note by Gerard McBurney
Recommended Recording
Scottish National Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
Chandos CHAN 8729
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Serge Prokofieff
Popular Russian composer of Classical Symphony, Peter and the Wolf and the ballet Romeo and Juliet
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