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Sydney Philharmonia Choirs - Bernstein's Candide

Choral Singing / Sydney Philharmonia Choirs
Co-presented by Sydney Opera House 

A semi-staged bravura romp in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

Dates and Venue:
Saturday 29 September 2018, at 8pm
Sunday 30 September 2018, at 1pm
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House








Book by Hugh Wheeler
Based on the satire by Voltaire
Lyrics by Richard Wilbur, with additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John LaTouche, Dorothy Parker, Lilliam Hellman and Leonard Bernstein
Orchestration by Leonard Bernstein and Hershy Kay
Musical continuity and additional orchestration by John Mauceri

Our gormless hero Candide and his fiancĂ©e Cunegonde are raised by the philosophical windbag Professor Pangloss to believe that all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds. Disaster, separation, disease, unpleasant journeys and attempted burning at the stake soon follow, until, thoroughly disillusioned, all the characters reunite at home and resolve to make some sense of life. Think of it as the fun-house mirror version of Handel’s Saul, one where tragedy is played as farce – with a happy ending, of course.

Below, in discussion on Candide's SPC production: Music & Artistic Director Brett Weymark with Director Mitchell Butel.



From its rollicking overture to its string of affectionate parodies of opera, Gilbert and Sullivan, tango and Broadway glitz, Candide is a delight from start to finish – one that might just make you think. While the overture and showpieces like the bravura ‘Glitter and Be Gay’ have become concert-hall fixtures, the complete Candide is rarely mounted.


Artists:

Brett Weymark conductor
Mitchell Butel director
Caroline O'Connor The Old Lady
Alexander Lewis Candide 
Phil Scott Pangloss 
Kanen Breen Maximilian  
Annie Aitken Cunegonde
With Nicholas Jones, Adam Player and Katherine Allen
Symphony Chorus
Festival Chorus

Sydney Youth OrchestraWith members of Pacific Opera

Bernstein’s musical comedy is a wickedly tuneful romp for the best of all possible worlds.

If there’s one thing that drives Bernstein’s work, it’s the belief that while we might be ‘neither pure, nor wise, nor good, we'll do the best we know.

Pre-concert talk: Held 45 minutes prior to the performance in the Northern Foyer, presented in association with Fine Music FM and Sydney Opera House.

Running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes including a 20 minute interval


Recognition: 

SPC's Bernstein CANDIDE is included in Limelight’s Top Shows of 2018: Musical Theatre

Related Links:

Leonard Bernstein's Candide.   

Leonard Bernstein's "Candide" - BBC 1988. Youtube, uploaded by Freiderick Wolf. Accessed September 29, 2019.



SPC Candide Announcements:

Candide in Concert at the Sydney Opera House. www.stagewhispers.com.au

Michell Butel in Bernstein and Candide. Stage Whispers. 

Sydney Philharmonia releases casting details for Candide.  Limelight Magazine. Written by Justine Nguyen, March 23, 2018.

Sydney Philharmonia Releases Casting Details of CANDIDE. www.broadwayworld.com. March 21, 2018.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Present A Rare Concert Version of Leonard Bernstein's CANDIDE. www.broadwayworlds.com August 21, 2018.

Winners Announced for the for the 2018 Broadway World Sydney Awards. Broadway World.  CANDIDE won the following awards: Best Actor in an Opera (Alexander Lewis), Best Actress in an Opera (Annie Aitken), Best Director in an Opera (Mitchell Butel), Best Opera (CANDIDE), Best Supporting Actor in an Opera (Adam Player).  

Reviews: 

"The production by Mitchell Butel had Broadway slickness and non-stop energy marred by over-amplification of soloists and orchestra that stripped voices and textures of balance and nuance. Even without amplification, however, the combined Symphony Chorus and Festival Chorus outsang them all." - The Sydney Morning Herald. (1 October 2018)

Candide (Sydney Philharmonia Choirs). Reviewed by Jo Litson.  www.limelightmagazine.com.au.  September 30, 2018.

Candide Review: [Sydney Opera House]. Reviewed by Martin Portus. dailyreview.com.au.  October 1, 2018.

LIVE REVIEW // Holly sees Candide at the Sydney Opera House. www.cutcommonmag.com. October 9, 2018.
Political Correctness on Hold: Candide in Sydney. Reviewed by Jeremy Eccles. bachtrack.com. 30 September 2018.

Review: Candide, Sydney Opera House. Reviewed by David Barmby. performing.artshub.com.au.  29 September 2018.



Videos:

Candide Cast Announcement #1 - (Cunegonde) Annie Aitken

Candide Cast Announcement #2 -  (Candide) Alexander Lewis and (Maximilian) Kanen Breen.

Candide Cast Announcement #3 - (Old Lady) Caroline O'Connor.

Watch Director Mitchell Butel and Conductor Brett Weymark in discussion on our Youtube channel. 



Resources: 


Bernstein Candide / Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Program.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. (Available at the time of access). September 29, 2018.



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