Bernstein’s fantastical operetta comes to Welsh National Opera this Summer, and before we embark on Candide’s wondrous journey around the World, we looked at the history of the story.
Based on the contes philosophiques by Voltaire, which was first published in 1759 in French, this satirical work follows our protagonist, Candide, as his optimistic philosophy is challenged as he travels the World. Forced from his home in Westphalia, and from his love, Cunégonde, Candide is pushed to travel across Northern Europe, before he sails for Portugal.
On his way to Lisbon, the kind captain of the ship drowns in the storm as he saves a crewmate, who subsequently leaves the captain to drown, shocking Candide to his core. This is one of many events throughout the opera that causes Candide to question his belief in optimism. Lisbon is then razed by a terrible earthquake, and the travellers witness terrible destruction and loss of life. Observing such hardship and pain while on his travels, how could his tutor Pangloss’ belief that ‘all is for the best’ be true when there is such suffering and evil in the heart of men?
Voltaire used historical events within Candide to explore and challenge the Leibnizian optimism that the philosopher Pangloss teaches to the young protagonist, specifically challenging ‘The problem of evil’. Within this problem, philosophers question how an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient deity can exist alongside the existence of evil and suffering. The Lisbon earthquake in 1755 left an estimated 12,000 people dead and inspired major developments in Theology. Voltaire recounts this earthquake within his tale, representing the random destruction that can befall through natural disaster, and challenge the optimistic philosophy. The war between the Bulgars and the people of Westphalia, and the atrocities that are committed is inspired by the Seven Years’ War that took place in the mid-18th century, and included many of the European nations.
Away from the text, Candide was initially conceived as a play with incidental music by Lillian Hellman, a well-regarded Broadway playwright. However, Leonard Bernstein convinced Hellman to change the production to a comic operetta, to which he would supply the music. Candide premiered on Broadway in 1956, but received unfavourable reviews, and only ran for two months.
Since the premiere on Broadway in 1956, the operetta has seen a number of changes and editions supplied by a number of different lyricists. WNO will be performing the Lonny Price edition, which was first performed as a semi-staged concert in 2004 with the New York Philharmonic.
In our production, Director James Bonas is working with animator Grégoire Pont to bring the world of Westphalia, Portugal and Eldorado to life. Grégoire has previously animated productions of Carmen and Snow Queen, and we can’t wait to see the story of Candide come to life on stages across the tour.
Candide will be visiting Cardiff, Truro, Llandudno, Oxford, Birmingham and Brecon between 22 June – 15 July, and it’s not one to miss.