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Sat, 29th November 2008 - Sat, 27th June 2009

Comic operetta by Leonard Bernstein

Alongside his successful musical West Side Story, the operetta Candide is one of American composer and conductor Leonard Bernsteins most frequently performed works. The operetta combines his multifaceted music with one of the more original novels of European literature: Candide, or, Optimism by Voltaire. With satirical wit, the French author follows a young mans educational journey around the world. Besides Eastern Westphalia, the colourful revue takes place in Lisbon, Paris, Buenos Aires, Venice and the legendary El Dorado, to name just a few of its settings.

Young Candide, is brought up by his teacher Doctor Pangloss to believe that the world we live in is the best of all possible worlds, in which everything that happens, no matter how bad it may be, has its purpose. Unfortunately, reality is somewhat different. Banned from the castle he grew up in as the illegitimate nephew of a baron, Candide goes out into the world in search of truth and happiness. Yet natural catastrophes, fanaticism, war and the lust for power keep him adrift from one place to the next. Despite myriad adversities, he holds to his optimism. In the end he returns to Westphalia to cultivate his garden, where he hopes to find peace and quiet.

Bernsteins score adroitly combines various musical styles, containing elements of opera, operetta, vaudeville, folk music and jazz in a variety of magnificent arias, duets, ensembles, choir pieces and dances. The tango Im Easily Assimilated or Cunegondes ironic coloratura aria Glitter and Be Gay, along with the fast-paced and upbeat overture routinely heard in concert halls around the world, are but a few examples of the musical variety of a work which is Bernsteins love letter to European music and especially to the genre of operetta.

Performance Times

2nd Oct 08 @ 19:30

3rd Oct 08 @ 19:00

29th Nov 08 @ 19:00

30th Nov 08 @ 15:00

15th Jan 09 @ 19:30

19th May 09 @ 19:30

20th May 09 @ 19:30

27th Jun 09 @ 19:00