Glyndebourne’s production of The Love of Three Oranges is nothing short of a sizzling visual extravaganza. The combination of Frank Corsaro’s innovative direction and the brilliant creative designs of Maurice Sendak has created an opera which mixes fantasy, nightmare, romance and satire. The whole production is alive with acrobats, jugglers, body-builders, monsters, outrageous inflatable figures, colossal puppets and special animated sequences – creating a farcical, carnival atmosphere.

Willard White powerfully portrays the King whose son, a doleful hypochondriac, can only be cured through laughter. The antics of the court jester, Truffaldino, fail to raise even a giggle, and it is only when the wicked witch Fata Morgana accidently loses her skirt that the Prince breaks into hysterics. In revenge Morgana condemns the Prince, sung with “…fine lyrical fervour” by Ryland Davies (Musical Times), to fall in love with three oranges which he pursues for three thousand miles. The exciting rhythms and brilliant orchestration of Prokofiev’s score are conducted by Bernard Haitink.