(Section D)
Led by Laurance Turner
Conducted by Julian Clifford
Prokofiev's opera, The Love for Three Oranges, if not actually comic opera, might at least be described as opera grotesque. Its story is the old story of The Prince Who Could Not Smile, with the addition of a fairy-tale curse ; the action, besides being full of magicians and sorcerers, incantations and transmogrifications, suggests a ballet rather than a straight opera.
The prologue reminds one of The
Beggar's Opera ; different factions try to put on the kind of performance they want, headed by the Tragicals, who ' run on from the right with bowed heads wildly waving umbrellas'. The day is won by the Drolls (Les Ridicules), but every now and again they have to beat off attacks by the Tragicals, who rush on in the middle of the action crying out for Tragedy.