The story of Candide is packed with excitement, adventure and emotion, and this is reflected exquisitely in the music. A large part of its charm comes from the fact it is so rich and varied, with elements of operetta, musical theatre and jazz, to name a few. However, what seals the deal is the way it takes us on a journey. For that we can thank composer Leonard Bernstein. Now, let’s give you a flavour of what to expect – here are our favourite songs from Candide…
Oh, Happy We
Near the beginning of the story, there is a delightful duet between the young Candide and Cunégonde, who are imagining their future together. Oh, Happy We displays the pair’s idealised perception of the world and their optimism. It also shows, humorously, that they have completely different ideas about what a happy future looks like; Candide hopes to ‘build a modest little farm’ while Cunégonde desires to ‘buy a yacht and live aboard it’. For all this ludicrousness, though, the song is very joyful, with a playful and upbeat underscore.
Glitter and Be Gay
This aria, sung by Cunégonde, is one of Candide’s most famous songs. It is quite a showstopper, and is technically very difficult due to the coloratura passage, where the soprano must hit high E flat notes and manage fast trills, runs and vocal leaps. Likewise, it is a challenge to perform in an acting capacity as it reveals a Cunégonde who is, beneath the surface, deeply unhappy. At this point, she is working as a high-class prostitute and is both shameful of her situation and thrilled by its material benefits. The singer must therefore balance a complex range of emotions.
Nothing More Than This
In this song, Candide, who has become disenchanted by the world, laments over Cunégonde’s fixation with money and physical possessions and asks her ‘Did you ever care?’ The aria is full of anger and despair and is accompanied by stunning music with varying dynamics, a combination that pulls hard at your heart strings.
Make Our Garden Grow
Candide’s finale brings everything you could wish for: passion, resolution, and hope for a brighter future. Candide opens the song with tenderness and resolve, admitting that he and Cunégonde have both been fools and asking her to marry him so that together they can ‘try, / Before we die, / To make some sense of life’. Cunégonde, who now realises that money isn’t what truly matters, happily agrees, expressing eagerness to ‘teach / My hands to bake / Our loaf of daily bread’. Prepare to be blown away when the supporting characters and full WNO Chorus join in, bringing enormous power to this beautiful, heartwarming song.
What will your favourite song be, we wonder? Book now to see Candide in Cardiff, Southampton, Llandudno or Bristol, and explore the variety of crowd-pleasers this performance has to offer!