Candide (Scottish Opera, 1988)
Leonard Bernstein's operetta performed by the Scottish Opera in 1988.
Where to watch
The Scottish Opera production of Candide has not been officially released since it aired on the BBC in 1988, though copies have found their way to YouTube.
theatrical history
Leonard Bernstein’s operetta Candide is based on the French novel Candide, ou L’Optimisme by Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. The story is a criticism of the notion that “All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds,” and follows the life of Candide, a young man seeking happiness in the world only to find war, famine, and grief.
Initially collaborating with Lillian Hellman, Bernstein wrote the score in the early 1950s. He premiered the Overture in 1956 with the New York Philharmonic where it was an instant hit.
Candide was first performed in Boston. The out-of-town try-outs were infamous for running long, with the curtain coming down until well after midnight on at least one occasion.
Candide opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on December 1, 1956. The production was directed by Tyrone Guthrie, and featured Max Adrian as Dr. Pangloss, Barbara Cook as Cunegonde, Irra Petina as the Old Lady, and Robert Rouseville as Candide.
The production received positive reviews, with New York Times theatre critic Brooks Atkinson describing it as a “brilliant musical satire,” and praising Bernstein’s “wonderful score,” and the visual sumptuousness of the production.
Candide was nominated for multiple awards, including five Tony Awards.
Despite the critical praise, the show was a commercial flop and closed on February 2, 1957 after 73 performances.
Bernstein continued making revisions until a few years before his death in 1990. Stephen Sondheim, Richard Wilbur, John La Touche, Dorothy Parker, and conductor John Mauceri all contributed updates over various productions. There are now at least seven different versions of the show.
Candide has continued to be performed around the world, with productions in England, Scotland, Israel, and across the United States. It is one of the Bernstein’s most frequently performed symphonic compositions.
In 1986, under the direction of Hal Prince, the New York City Opera staged a popular “opera house” version of Candide. It was aired on American television on PBS’ Live from Lincoln Center, and was revived multiple times.
In 1988, the Scottish Opera staged a production with new lyrics by John Wells and musical direction by John Mauceri. The production opened on May 19, 1988, at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, and was subsequently performed in Newcastle, Liverpool, and Edinburgh.
The Scottish Opera production transferred to the West End, opening at the Old Vic on December 1, 1988. It played for 34 performances before closing on January 7, 1989. Despite the short season, the Scottish Opera and Old Vic co-production picked up several awards, including the 1988 Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, Best Actress in a Musical (Patricia Routledge).
Leonard Bernstein revised the Scottish Opera/Old Vic production, and created what is now considered the “definitive version.” This version was performed in concert at the Barbican Theatre in London on December 12 and 13, 1989, under the baton of Bernstein himself. The second Barbican concert was was filmed live and released on VHS, Laserdisc. It was later released on DVD.
A studio recording with the cast of the Barbican concert was released in 1991 under the title Bernstein Conducts Candide.
Under the direction of Lonny Price, the New York Philharmonic presented a staged concert version of Candide at Lincoln Center as a part of its 2004 season. This production was also filmed live.
Initially collaborating with Lillian Hellman, Bernstein wrote the score in the early 1950s. He premiered the Overture in 1956 with the New York Philharmonic where it was an instant hit.
Candide was first performed in Boston. The out-of-town try-outs were infamous for running long, with the curtain coming down until well after midnight on at least one occasion.
Candide opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on December 1, 1956. The production was directed by Tyrone Guthrie, and featured Max Adrian as Dr. Pangloss, Barbara Cook as Cunegonde, Irra Petina as the Old Lady, and Robert Rouseville as Candide.
The production received positive reviews, with New York Times theatre critic Brooks Atkinson describing it as a “brilliant musical satire,” and praising Bernstein’s “wonderful score,” and the visual sumptuousness of the production.
Candide was nominated for multiple awards, including five Tony Awards.
Despite the critical praise, the show was a commercial flop and closed on February 2, 1957 after 73 performances.
Bernstein continued making revisions until a few years before his death in 1990. Stephen Sondheim, Richard Wilbur, John La Touche, Dorothy Parker, and conductor John Mauceri all contributed updates over various productions. There are now at least seven different versions of the show.
Candide has continued to be performed around the world, with productions in England, Scotland, Israel, and across the United States. It is one of the Bernstein’s most frequently performed symphonic compositions.
In 1986, under the direction of Hal Prince, the New York City Opera staged a popular “opera house” version of Candide. It was aired on American television on PBS’ Live from Lincoln Center, and was revived multiple times.
In 1988, the Scottish Opera staged a production with new lyrics by John Wells and musical direction by John Mauceri. The production opened on May 19, 1988, at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, and was subsequently performed in Newcastle, Liverpool, and Edinburgh.
The Scottish Opera production transferred to the West End, opening at the Old Vic on December 1, 1988. It played for 34 performances before closing on January 7, 1989. Despite the short season, the Scottish Opera and Old Vic co-production picked up several awards, including the 1988 Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, Best Actress in a Musical (Patricia Routledge).
Leonard Bernstein revised the Scottish Opera/Old Vic production, and created what is now considered the “definitive version.” This version was performed in concert at the Barbican Theatre in London on December 12 and 13, 1989, under the baton of Bernstein himself. The second Barbican concert was was filmed live and released on VHS, Laserdisc. It was later released on DVD.
A studio recording with the cast of the Barbican concert was released in 1991 under the title Bernstein Conducts Candide.
Under the direction of Lonny Price, the New York Philharmonic presented a staged concert version of Candide at Lincoln Center as a part of its 2004 season. This production was also filmed live.
film history
The Scottish Opera/Old Vic co-production was taped on May 20-21, and broadcast on the BBC around October 1988. While it has not been officially released since being broadcast, copies have found their way to YouTube.
cast & creative credits
Theatre: Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Producer: Scottish Opera, The Old Vic
Music: Leonard Bernstein
Director: Jonathan Miller
Musical Director: John Mauceri and Justin Brown
Orchestrations: Leonard Bernstein and Hershy Kay
Additional Orchestrations: John Mauceri
Choreography: Anthony van Laast
Scenic and Costume Design: Richard Hudson
Lighting Design: David Cunningham
Conductor: John Mauceri
Cast:
Nickolas Grace (Voltaire / Pangloss / Cacambo / Martin), Bonaventure Bottone (Captain / Governor / Gambler), David Hillman (Captain / Governor / Gambler), Mark Beudert (Candide), Marilyn Hill Smith (Cunegonde), Ann Howard (Old Lady), Gaynor Miles (Paquette), Mark Tinkler (Maximilian), Leon Greene (The Baron / First Officer / Grand Inquisitor / First Jesuit / Slave Driver / Ragotski), Howard Goorney (Don Issachar, The Jew / Father Bernard / The Anabaptist / Second Officer / A Sage), Elaine MacKillop (The Baroness / Waitress), Carol Rowlands (Lisbon Woman / Waitress), John Brackenridge (Informer / Announcer / Aide), Paul Anwyl (Huntsman / Croupier), David Morrison (Lisbon Man), Declan McCusker (Sultan Achmet), Grant Richards (Prince Charles Edward), Graeme Danby (Tzar Ivan / Sailor), Jonathan Hawkins (King Hermann Augustus), Scott Cooper (King Stanislaus / Archbishop)
Producer: Scottish Opera, The Old Vic
Music: Leonard Bernstein
Director: Jonathan Miller
Musical Director: John Mauceri and Justin Brown
Orchestrations: Leonard Bernstein and Hershy Kay
Additional Orchestrations: John Mauceri
Choreography: Anthony van Laast
Scenic and Costume Design: Richard Hudson
Lighting Design: David Cunningham
Conductor: John Mauceri
Cast:
Nickolas Grace (Voltaire / Pangloss / Cacambo / Martin), Bonaventure Bottone (Captain / Governor / Gambler), David Hillman (Captain / Governor / Gambler), Mark Beudert (Candide), Marilyn Hill Smith (Cunegonde), Ann Howard (Old Lady), Gaynor Miles (Paquette), Mark Tinkler (Maximilian), Leon Greene (The Baron / First Officer / Grand Inquisitor / First Jesuit / Slave Driver / Ragotski), Howard Goorney (Don Issachar, The Jew / Father Bernard / The Anabaptist / Second Officer / A Sage), Elaine MacKillop (The Baroness / Waitress), Carol Rowlands (Lisbon Woman / Waitress), John Brackenridge (Informer / Announcer / Aide), Paul Anwyl (Huntsman / Croupier), David Morrison (Lisbon Man), Declan McCusker (Sultan Achmet), Grant Richards (Prince Charles Edward), Graeme Danby (Tzar Ivan / Sailor), Jonathan Hawkins (King Hermann Augustus), Scott Cooper (King Stanislaus / Archbishop)
research sources
Books
Articles
Websites
- David Bleiler, TLA Film, Video, and DVD Guide 2002-2003: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide, St Martin’s Press (2014)
- Susan Higgins, Conversations With Ann Howard, AuthorHouse (2014)
- Paul R. Laird and Hsun Lin, Leonard Bernstein: A Research and Information Guide, Second Edition, Routledge (2015)
Articles
- Brooks Atkinson, “The Theatre: Candide,” New York Times (Dec 3, 1956)
- Peter G. David, “Garden Variety,” New York Magazine (May 24, 2004)
- Andrew Gans
- Adam Hetrick, “BroadwayHD Adds Imelda Staunton Gypsy, LuPone Sweeney Todd, Company, Follies,” Playbill (April 14, 2016)
- Robert Simonson, Andrew Gans, “Chenoweth and LuPone Sing Candide on PBS Jan. 12,” Playbill (Jan 12, 2005)
- David Patrick Stearns, “Candide Redux,” Opera News, 56.2 (Aug, 1991), pg. 12
- Steven Suskin, “THE DVD SHELF: Candide, Long Day's Journey and James (Dean) & Julie (Harris),” Playbill (June 19, 2005)
- Anthony Tommasini, “Voltaire Via Bernstein, Donald Trump Reference Included,” New York Times (May 7, 2004)
- Michael Tumelty, “Backing up the master As Leonard Bernstein's Candide is about to be aired, Michael Tumelty tracks the career of John Mauceri, the Scottish Opera conductor who helped bring the masterpiece back to life and brought the great composer to Glasgow,” Herald Scotland (Dec 19, 2006)
- Heidi Waleson, “'Candide' Review: Nostalgia and Misfortune,” Wall Street Journal (Jan 10, 2017)
- James Wierzbicki, “BERNSTEIN'S `CANDIDE': [FIVE STAR Edition],” St. Louis Post - Dispatch (May 15, 1994)
- Zealnyc, “‘Candide’ Celebrates its 60th Anniversary with Celebrity Tributes,” Huffington Post (Dec 12, 2016)
- Sam Zolotow, “Run of Candide may close Feb 2,” New York Times (Jan 18, 1957)
- Author Unknown, “Praise Indeed,” The Stage (Oct 13, 1988), p.28
Websites
- Arkiv Music, “Bernstein: Candide / Hadley, Anderson, Ludwig,” Accessed via: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=144807
- The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide
- “A Guide to Leonard Bernstein’s Candide,” Compiled by Michael H. Hutchins, Accessed via: http://www.sondheimguide.com/Candide/index.html
- “Candide: 1988 Scottish Opera Production,” Compiled by Michael H. Hutchins, Accessed via: www.sondheimguide.com/Candide/88scottish.html
- “Candide: 2004 New York Philharmonic Concerts” Compiled by Michael H. Hutchins, Accessed via: http://www.sondheimguide.com/Candide/04nypo.html
- Leonard Bernstein, “Works: Stage: Candide (1956),” Accessed via: https://leonardbernstein.com/works/view/10/candide
- New York Philharmonic Leon Levy Digital Archives, “2004 May 05, 06, 07, 08 / Subscription Season / Alsop,” Accessed via: http://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/e4e2756c-d17c-4bbd-b223-cc597af71987/fullview#page/1/mode/2up
- Opera Scotland, “Candide,” Accessed via: http://www.operascotland.org/opera/366/Candide
- Playbill, “Candide”, Accessed via: http://www.playbill.com/production/candide-martin-beck-theatre-vault-0000008270
Written by Luisa Lyons (October, 2017)