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Voltaire’s satirical tale of mindless optimism springs to life through a brilliant score from famed West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein.
Filled with sparkling wit and humour, Candide is a unique fusion of opera and musical theatre, utterly irreverent, drawing inspiration from European operetta to Latin American dance rhythms.
Join us on an adventure as we follow our hero and his beloved, Cunégonde, through a world gone mad, inhabited by an endless array of vicious, greedy, lustful, and manipulative characters. Portraying this vibrant cast of characters is a versatile and talented Australian ensemble, led by the multi-talented music theatre Renaissance man, Eddie Perfect, and award-winning star of Hamilton, Lyndon Watts.
Prepare to witness St Kilda’s iconic Palais Theatre transformed into “The Best of All Possible Worlds” in this thrilling new production, directed by Dean Bryant and designed by Dann Barber, with lighting by Matt Scott. The symphonic magic of this brilliant score will be conjured by maestro Benjamin Northey with Orchestra Victoria.
Thursday 8 February, 7.30 pm
Friday 9 February, 7.30 pm
Saturday 10 February, 7.30 pm
Duration
2 hours and 30 minutes, including an interval
Language
Sung in English
Content warning: This production contains mature content, depictions of hanging and flogging, atmospheric haze, strobe lightning effects, loud thunder, and simulated explosion sounds.
Recommended for ages 15+
Palais Theatre, St Kilda
Music by Leonard Bernstein, book by Hugh Wheeler after Voltaire, Lyrics by Richard Wilbur, with additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John La Touche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein
Orchestrations by Leonard Bernstein and Hershy Kay; Musical continuity and additional orchestrations by John Mauceri.
These performances are given by permission of Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd, exclusive agents for Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd of London.
Conductor Benjamin Northey
Director Dean Bryant
Set & Costume Designer Dann Barber
Lighting Designer Matt Scott
Sound Designer Samuel Moxham
Choreographer Freya List
Assistant Conductor Phoebe Briggs
Associate Designer Savanna Wegman
Voltaire / Pangloss Eddie Perfect
Candide Lyndon Watts
Cunégonde Katherine Allen
Old Lady Maria Mercedes
Maximilian Euan Fistrovic Doidge
Paquette Melanie Bird
Cacambo Eddie Muliaumaseali’i
Governor / Vanderdenur Alexander Lewis
Martin Troy Sussman
CHORUS
Kate Amos, Jonathon Bam, Paul Batey, Kirilie Blythman, Alastair Cooper-Golec, Irving Dekterev, Eamon Dooley, Shakira Dugan, Olivia Federow-Yemm, Jerzy Kozlowski, Belinda Paterson, Rebecca Rashleigh, Tim Reynolds, Syrah Torii, Nicole Wallace, Raphael Wong
Orchestra Victoria
Candide will no longer be available as part of the Season 2024 Subscription package as of Tuesday 6 February.
For assistance with Season 2024 Subscriptions, phone 1300 822 849 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am-4:30pm) or email subscriptions@victorianopera.com.au.
Subscription discounts are calculated on full-priced Single Tickets.
2024 Concession include: Pension and Health Care Card holders, Full-time Students, and MEAA Members. Other Discount prices available: Senior, 30 Years and Under, and Child (14 years and under) for select performances. Companion Card ticketing available.
Single Ticket Fees & Charges: A Ticketmaster handling fee from $7.95 per transaction applies. In addition, a delivery fee may apply depending on the mode of delivery selected.
Prices are correct at time of publishing and may vary. Pricing displayed are for full-priced tickets. Information on our Privacy and Ticketing Policies can be found here.
We strongly advise that tickets should only be purchased via authorised ticket sellers. For Candide this includes Ticketmaster, TodayTix and Halftix. Subscriptions are sold via Victorian Opera. Tickets purchased through unauthorised sellers cannot be guaranteed.
Do you need assistance with your ticket booking? We are here to help. Contact us via boxoffice@victorianopera.com.au and tell us how we can help you. We will take care of the rest.
The safety of our audience and team is paramount. Current COVID-safe procedures will be adhered to for every performance. Our venue partner has worked diligently to develop and update their COVIDSafe Plan as circumstances change.
If you or a member of your household is unwell or displaying COVID-19 symptoms before a performance, please stay home. To exchange or refund your tickets due to feeling unwell, simply contact us prior to the scheduled performance via boxoffice@victorianopera.com.au or phone (03) 9001 6412 (Monday to Friday, 10 am – 5 pm).
