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Life is happiness, indeed. Or so believes Candide at the start of his great adventure through a world gone mad. By the end? Just wait and see.
Leonard Bernstein’s genius is on full display: from the exuberant overture (a favourite of concert orchestras around the world), to the soprano showpiece ‘Glitter and Be Gay’ and the touching choral finale ‘Make Our Garden Grow’.
This new staging by award-winning director Dean Bryant was a smash hit upon its Melbourne premiere in 2024, with critics declaring it “the best of all possible productions” (Australian Book Review).
Musical theatre renaissance man Eddie Perfect and the star of Hamilton Lyndon Watts reprise their roles in a production that delivers both first-rate comedy and the symphonic magic of Bernstein’s score.
Since its premiere, Candide has defied classification — it’s played seasons on Broadway but has been embraced by many of the world’s great opera houses as part of the canon. Is it operetta or musical theatre? Whatever the case, it has some of the best music and most rollicking adventures you’ll see in any theatre.
2hr 30min. Incl. 1 Interval.
20th February, 2025
14th March, 2025
Step-free access with lifts and wheelchair seating, accessible bathrooms across multiple levels, assistive listening, captioned and audio-described performances, and registered service animals are welcome throughout the Sydney Opera House.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: The Sydney Opera House is short six-minute walk from Circular Quay, with frequent trains, buses and ferries. An accessible shuttle also operates between Circular Quay and the venue for those who require assistance.
BY BICYCLE: Bike parking is available beneath the Monumental Steps.
BY CAR: Parking is available at Wilson Parking Sydney Opera House Car Park, open 24/7 with undercover access to the Lower Concourse. Accessible parking spaces are also available on site.
Conductor: Brett Weymark
Director: Dean Bryant
Set and Costume Designer: Dann Barber
Lighting Designer: Matt Scott
Choreographer: Freya List
Music: Leonard Bernstein
Book: Hugh Wheeler after Voltaire
Lyrics: Richard Wilbur
Additional Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim, John La Touche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker & Leonard Bernstein
Orchestrations: Leonard Bernstein & Hershy Kay
Musical continuity and additional orchestration: John Maucery
CAST
Voltaire/ Pangloss: Eddie Perfect
Candide: Lyndon Watts
Cunegonde: Annie Aitken __ Old Lady: Dominica Mathews
Maximilian: Euan Fistrovic Doidge
Paquette: Cathy-Di Zhang
Cacambo: Eddie Muliaumaseali'i
Governor/ Vanderdendur: John Longmuir
Martin: Andrew Moran
Performed with: Opera Australia Orchestra & Opera Australia Chorus
*Subject to change
Unfortunately, tickets for this event are no longer available.
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