Candide (operetta)

Candide is a comic operetta with music by Leonard Bernstein, based on the 1759 novella of the same name by Voltaire. The operetta’s book has had a famously troubled history, with numerous writers contributing to various versions. Initial collaborators were Lillian Hellman (for the original 1956 production), followed by revisions and additions from writers including Hugh Wheeler, John Latouche, Richard Wilbur, Stephen Sondheim, and Dorothy Parker.

The plot broadly follows Voltaire's satire, detailing the travels and tribulations of Candide, a young man who is taught by his tutor, Dr. Pangloss, that they live in "the best of all possible worlds." Candide's unwavering optimism is relentlessly tested as he experiences war, natural disasters, injustice, and betrayal, travelling through Europe and the Americas. He is separated from his beloved Cunegonde and undergoes a series of adventures in his search to reunite with her and find happiness.

Musically, Candide is notable for its eclectic style, blending elements of operetta, Broadway musical, and classical music. It features memorable songs such as "Glitter and Be Gay," a coloratura aria for Cunegonde, and "Make Our Garden Grow," a hopeful ensemble number that concludes the operetta.

Despite its initial failure upon its premiere in 1956, Candide has been revised and restaged numerous times. Various versions have proven to be more successful, cementing its place in the musical theatre repertoire and establishing it as a significant work in Bernstein's oeuvre. The constant evolution of the book reflects the enduring challenge of translating Voltaire's complex satire into a stage production, while the enduring appeal of Bernstein's score ensures its continued performance.