Opera Philadelphia will present the company premiere of Prokofiev’s “The Love for Three Oranges” as part of its O19 season-opening festival.

The production will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opera, as well as Corrado Rovaris’ 20th year with the company as Jack Mulroney Music Director.

“The Love for Three Oranges,” rarely seen in the U.S., “is probably one of the most important fairy tales in the history of opera,” Rovaris comments in the press release. “The score is really unique because you have a lot of people and cultures on stage. The chorus is a very important character, very involved in the plot, and the orchestral writing is very colorful, energetic, and rhythmical, but also sometimes very lyrical too. It’s the perfect showcase for our orchestra and chorus, and we’re going to produce it with a wonderful cast and a wonderful production from Europe; it’s really remarkable.”

The production will feature scenic design by Justin Arienti, costumes by Manuel Pedretti, lighting by Giuseppe Calabro, and choreography by Ran Arthur Braun. Together with director Alessandro Talevi, they will transform Prokofiev’s “comic gem” into a “grand opera with a Russian twist.”

Jonathan Johnson will star as the Prince, alongside Wendy Bryn Harmer as Fata Morgana, Scott Connor as the King of Clubs, Zachary Altman as Leander, Alissa Anderson as Princess Clarissa, Barry Banks as Truffaldino, Tiffany Townsend as Ninetta, Katherine Pracht as Linetta, Kendra Broom as Nicoletta, Brent Michael Smith as Magician Chelio, Zachary James as the Cook, Amanda Bottoms as Smeraldine, Ben Wagner as Farfarello, and Will Liverman as Pantaloon.

Performances will take place from Sept. 20 – 29, 2019.