Backstage: Love for the Three Oranges

A new Czech TV time-lapse documentary about the creation of a surrealist opera by Sergei Prokofiev at the Prague National Theatre.

Love for the Three Oranges, a surrealistic fairy tale for adults, is a remarkable opera in many ways. Sergei Prokofiev wrote it shortly after his emigration from Bolshevik Russia to the US as a very cosmopolitan work of its kind: according to an Italian model in Russian adaptation to a French text for an American audience. The author of the original foolish fairy tale in the style of commedie dell’arte is the Italian playwright, satirist and mystifier, Count Carlo Gozzi.

The production of Prokofiev's remarkable opera at the National Theatre in Prague is based on an international production team full of renowned artists. The National Theatre Orchestra is conducted by British conductor Christopher Ward, who debuted at the National Theatre in Prague with Billy Budd. Directed by Radim Vizváry, the winner of the Thalia Award, according to which it is a work so purely surrealistic that it nowadays allows for film depiction. The scene, evolving from realistic to abstract, is the work of Boris Kudlička. The award-winning stage designer collaborates with world directors, designing scenes for film, theatre, concerts and international exhibitions. The author of bold fancy costumes is Natalia Kitamikado. Casting of singing roles is also excellent. The main role of the hypochondriac prince loving orange excels the soloist of the National Theater Martin Šrejma and Aleš Briscein, a regular and welcome guest in major opera houses, the owner of two Thalia Awards.

In our documentary we follow the whole creative process from the beginning of rehearsals to premiere in May 2019.

English title Backstage: Love for the Three Oranges
Production Company Czech Television
Director Renata Šáchová
Stage Director Radim Vizváry
Conductor Christopher Ward
Production year 2019