Candide by Bernstein, De la (2018/2018), National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Leonard Bernstein’s iconic operetta takes the audience on a farcical and sobering journey In the year of Bernstein’s centennial, Weiwuying honors the maestro with a grand production of his popular operetta. Based on the French philosopher Voltaire’s satirical novella, Candide traces the tumultuous life of the title character. After a forbidden love affair leads to his exile, he embarks on a series of misadventure, encountering violence, evil, and much heartbreak. Originally, the operetta was met with unenthusiastic reaction from the audience but is now one of Bernstein’s most popular works. In today’s tumultuous world, Candide poses urgent questions about human nature and the possibility of hope. Music by Leonard Bernstein, book by Hugh Wheeler after Voltaire, Lyrics by Richard Wilbur, with additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John La Touche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein. Orchestrations by Leonard Bernstein and Hershy Kay; Musical continuity and additional orchestrations by John Mauceri, with a narration for concert version by Leonard Bernstein and John Wells, adapted from the satire by Voltaire and the book by Hugh Wheeler; edited and supplemented by Erik Haagensen.