Leonard Bernstein's Candide

Best of all possible nights... Leonard’s Bernstein’s hilarious Broadway masterpiece Candide will be performed by Wellington’s Orpheus Choir.

A stellar cast of singers and the Vector Wellington Orchestra will join forces to bring you this scintillating musical – an operetta combining musical genius and comic ingenuity.

Famously called the ‘best of all possible shows’ Candide takes its inspiration from Voltaire’s comic novella of the same name.

New Zealand’s much-loved Ray Henwood takes the role of narrator guiding the audience through the tale of Candide’s quest to find happiness.

2010-2011 recipient of the Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist Award, Cameron Barclay takes the role of the hapless Candide. He is joined by Wellington soprano Barbara Graham as the glittering Cunegonde, the dynamic and favourite of audiences nationwide, mezzo Helen Medlyn as the exotic old lady, and the greatly admired veteran international tenor Richard Greager in an assortment of guises.

Directed by Sara Brodie, this concert version of Candide will be anything but a static performance, even the choir of over 100-plus choir will be on the move! Orpheus Choir’s music director Mark W Dorrell comes from London with a wealth of musical theatre experience. His recent work with the Orpheus Choir has received rave reviews. Of its performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Vector Wellington Orchestra, John Button, reviewer for the Dominion Post said:

“I doubt I will ever hear a performance in New Zealand with an amateur choir that does justice to this work. Well, this performance changed that view…. the singing had dynamism and verve."

You simply can’t miss this rare opportunity to hear Bernstein’s comic musical masterpiece Candide, performed by Wellington’s Orpheus Choir, Vector Wellington Orchestra and a superb cast of home-grown soloists.