Candide
The Royal National Theatre Version
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler
In a New Version by John Caird
Lyrics by Richard Wilbur
Additional Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, and Leonard Bernstein
Directed by Peter Rothstein
Music Direction by Philip Brunelle
Starring Phinehas Bynum, Bradley Greenwald, Liv Redpath, Michael Fairbairn, Liz Hawkinson, G. Phillip Shoultz, III, Susan Hofflander, and Rodolfo Nieto.
VocalEssence Ensemble Singe
VocalEssence Chamber Chorus
Chamber Orchestra
Cowles Center for Thought & Culture, 2019
A tale exploding with star-crossed lovers, melodramatic villains, broad comedy, and a beautiful score, Candide combines the power of opera with the delights of musical theatre. Wrapped in irony, this musical follows the optimistic young Candide in search of “the best of all possible worlds" on an extraordinary journey to reunite with his soulmate. An all-star cast will be joined by a full orchestra and a chorus of sixty--the perfect way to savor the epic beauty of Bernstein's remarkable score.
“The current Twin Cities production — a collaboration between Theater Latte Da and VocalEssence — steers an intriguing and ingenious middle course.” - Pioneer Press
“Bernstein’s “Candide” may be a difficult piece to master. But it’s undoubtedly a masterpiece, a fact fully confirmed in Rothstein’s wonderfully imaginative production.” - Star Tribune
“Director Peter Rothstein has a way of tweaking a piece just enough to bring out its purist truth, and he's done that here. The result is something clever, charming, not too weighted down with plot complications, and musically stunning.” -Cherry and Spoon