Production of the concert version of Candide
French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher Voltaire presented his novella Candide, or Optimism in 1759 in France. The work was published in secrecy due to its sharp political satire, religious blasphemy and social critique, and was immediately banned. However, this charmingly sad, brilliantly ironic philosophical story still managed to achieve popularity, until in 1956 it was used as a background for Leonard Bernstein’s (1918-1990) operetta Candide, which, according to New York Times, turned into “one of the most genial, talented and valuable musicals in the entire history of the USA”. The premiere of Candide took place at the Broadway theatre in New York – its ever-relevant satiric subject and charm led to many more productions all over the world. In 2012 the operetta was performed for the first time in a concert format at the LNOBT.
The present production of Candide is prepared by French director Vincent Boussard, who is already known to the Lithuanian audience from his elegant productions of Manon and I Capuleti e I Montecchi, and music director Sesto Quatrini.
Premiere: 13 September 2019
Performances of the said Work are given by permission of Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Limited
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
