Organization

Direction d'orchestre

Compositeur (+5)

Leonard Bernstein

Mise en scène

Humphrey Burton

Lumières

Alan Woolford

Créateur sonore

Baryton (+1)

John Evans

Costumes

Amelia Bauer

Décors

Julia Whiteoak

Ténor (+2)

Jerry Hadley

Candide

Soprano

June Anderson

Cunégonde

Adolph Green

Docteur Pangloss

Mezzo-soprano (+3)

Christa Ludwig

La Vieille Dame

Basse (+3)

Kurt Ollmann

Maximilien

Ténor

Nicolai Gedda

Le Gouverneur

Vanderdendur

Ragotski

Martin

Le Capitaine Hermann Augustus

Della Jones

Paquette

Basse (+4)

Clive Bayley

Le gardien d'ours

Premier inquisiteur

Tsar Ivan

Lindsay Benson

Deuxième inquisiteur

Roi Stanislas

Ténor (+5)

Neil Jenkins

Le marchand de cosmétique

Troisième inquisiteur

Charles Edward

Baryton (+5)

Richard Suart

Junkman

Ténor (+1)

John Treleaven

L'alchimiste

Sultan Achmet

Crook

Simon Bainbridge

First Choir Soloist

Baryton-basse (+1)

Chris Short

Second Choir Soloist

Aileen Perris

Third Choir Soloist

Andrew Farrow

Choir Croupier

Barbican Centre

Stage Production Notes  
Leonard Bernstein’s operetta Candide was based on the French novel Candide, ou L’Optimisme by Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. The story was a criticism of the notion that “All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds,” and followed the life of Candide, a young man seeking happiness in the world and encountering war, famine, and grief.

Initially collaborating with Lillian Hellman, Bernstein wrote the score in the early 1950s. He premiered the Overture in 1956 with the New York Philharmonic where it was an instant hit.

Candide was first performed in Boston. The out-of-town try-outs were infamous for running long, with the curtain coming down until well after midnight on at least one occasion.

Candide opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on December 1, 1956. The production was directed by Tyrone Guthrie, and featured Max Adrian as Dr. Pangloss, Barbara Cook as Cunegonde, Irra Petina as the Old Lady, and Robert Rouseville as Candide.

The production received positive reviews, with New York Times theatre critic Brooks Atkinson describing it as a “brilliant musical satire,” and praising Bernstein’s “wonderful score,” and the visual sumptuousness of the production.

Candide was nominated for multiple awards, including five Tony Awards.

Despite the critical praise, the show was a commercial flop and closed on February 2, 1957 after 73 performances.

Bernstein continued making revisions until a few years before his death in 1990. Stephen Sondheim, Richard Wilbur, John La Touche, Dorothy Parker, and conductor John Mauceri all contributed updates over various productions. There are now at least seven different versions of the show.

Candide has continued to be performed around the world, with productions in England, Scotland, Israel, and across the United States. It is one of the Bernstein’s most frequently performed symphonic compositions.

In 1986, under the direction of Hal Prince, the New York City Opera staged a popular “opera house” version of Candide. It was aired on American television on PBS’ Live from Lincoln Center, and was revived multiple times.

In 1988, the Scottish Opera and Old Vic staged a production with new lyrics by John Wells and musical direction by John Mauceri. The production transferred to the West End and won the 1989 Olivier Award for Best New Musical. 

Leonard Bernstein revised the Scottish Opera production, and this score was performed in concert at the Barbican Theatre in London on December 12 and 13, 1989. The production featured the London Symphony Orchestra, and starred Adolph Green, June Anderson, Christa Ludwig, and Jerry Hadley. Bernstein conducted the concert himself, and as he died a year a later, the Barbican Concert version is considered the "definitive" version of Candide.

A studio recording was released in 1991 under the title Bernstein Conducts Candide.​

Under the direction of Lonny Price, the New York Philharmonic presented a staged concert version of Candide at Lincoln Center as a part of its 2004 season. This production was also filmed live.

Candide, Bernstein, L.

Distribution

Candide

Cunegonde

Voltaire/Dr. Pangloss

The Old Lady

Maximilian

Governor of Buenos Aires

Vanderdendur

Ragotski

Martin

King Hermann Augustus

Paquette

Bearkeeper

Inquisitor 1

Tsar Ivan

Inquisitor 2

King Stanislaus

Cosmetic Merchant

Inquisitor 3

Prince Charles Edward

Junkman

Alchemist

Sultan Achmet

Crook

First Choir Soloist

Second Choir Soloist

Third Choir Soloist

Choir Croupier

Équipage

Mise en scène

Direction d'orchestre

Décors

Costumes

Lumières

Créateur sonore

Instrumentation

Producteur

Producteur

Ensemble

Coproducteur

Photos

À propos de

Compositeur

Description

Synopsis de la Production