"For the Love of Three Oranges"

The Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev having been commissioned by Chicago Opera Association's musical director Cleofonte Campanini; Prokofiev's  new opera "For the Love of Three Oranges" had its premiere 30 December 1921, under the baton of the composer at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre.

(Chicago Daily Tribune; December 30, 1921)

 While in Chicago Prokofiev was feted by the city's social elite,  musical community and by Chicago's chess community.

"Sergei Prokoffieff, [sic] the composer of 'The Love of Three Oranges', the world premiere at the Chicago opera was given last week, is probably the strongest chess player among the many musical geniuses who excel at the royal game."

(Chicago Daily News: January 9, 1922)

At a reception given in honor of the composer,attended by "a crowd musical chess friends"  hosted by Edward Lasker the following game took place between Prokofiev and Lasker.

The Daily News published the game up to White's 28th move, but it seems newspaper gremlins intervened and the game does not work after Black's 20th move.Here is the game as it appeared in the Daily News.

As for the opera "For the Love of Three Oranges" it was given just two performances both with the composer conducting along with one performance in New York when the Chicago Opera company was on tour, again with the composer conducting. The critical reception to the opera, now part of the fringes of the repertory, was generally hostile. The dispirited composer wrote;  " It was as though a pack of dogs had broken loose and were tearing my trousers to shreds." (1)

For more information on Sergei  Prokofiev as a chess player click here, which will take you Edward Winter's Chess Notes 

(1) Quoted in Ronald Davis: Opera in Chicago (Appleton-Century, New York, 1966).p.139

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