A SUMPTUOUS ROMP THROUGH THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS

COVER

PRESENT CANDIDE Welcome Leonard Bernstein’s Candide famously opened on Broadway in 1956 and closed after some 73 performances. It could have easily slipped into the long list of forgotten musicals save for the fact that it spawned one of the most loved Broadway Original cast albums of all time, the fi rst track being ‘that’ overture. The show fi nally became a hit on Broadway in the 1974 Harold Prince production, winning a special Tony Award for outstanding contribution to the artistic development of the musical theatre. Termed a revival, this was almost a completely new show; the book had been totally rewritten, the orchestral forces reduced, much of the music was cut and the Auckland Town Hall voices, Broadway music theatre. 23 & 24 March at 7.30pm And even though he was grateful 25 March at 5pm Candide had fi nally found an Music by Leonard Bernstein, book by Hugh audience, the composer missed Wheeler after Voltaire, Lyrics by Richard the rest of his show: the music, Wilbur, with additional lyrics by Stephen the orchestrations and the Sondheim, John La Touche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein voices. Orchestrations by Leonard Bernstein and Hershy Kay; Musical continuity and additional Tonight, some sixty years after orchestrations by John Mauceri. Licensed by Hal Leonard Australia, exclusive agent for the original production, and Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd. after many, many versions, you’ll hear the Candide that Please note: Information is correct at the time of printing. New Zealand Opera reserves the right to make alterations Bernstein authorised, the to the cast as required due to unavoidable circumstances. Use of cameras, cellular phones and recording devices is version that marries the strictly prohibited. Latecomers will not be admitted until a irreverence and joy of Hugh suitable break in the performance. Wheeler’s 1974 script with the full orchestral version of the score in all its audacity and brilliance. What better way to son jardin” (translated in the celebrate the centenary of the operetta as “Make our Garden birth of the great composer Grow’) into a stirring and himself? positive anthem, full of hope for a better world. This is, after Voltaire’s original story Candide all, the same Leonard Bernstein or Optimism, published in who, in response to the 1759, raises many issues. It is an assassination of John F Kennedy attack on the complacency of said: ‘This will be our reply to our modern world, on all ready violence; to make music more made, ‘self help book’ style intensely. More beautifully, more systems of belief. It’s a satire on devotedly than ever before’. organised religion, and a gloomy summing up of the man’s As our young hero, Candide inhumanity to man… how, if this and his virtuously challenged is the best of all possible worlds, consort face an evening of do you explain the horror of ever-increasing catastrophes: natural disasters? And like all shipwrecks, erupting volcanoes, great satires Candide just raises disease, poverty, treachery, the issues, it doesn’t provide any lechery, war, and injustice, all answers. the while insisting that ‘all is for the best in this best of all The critic Mark Steyn has said possible worlds’, they finally ‘…Candide will always occupy take stock in the final moments a unique niche in the Broadway of the musical. Through this canon, not least because its gorgeous piece of music we are dramatis personae includes a coaxed to appreciate what we’ve character with only one buttock. got, to make the most of it and To some of us, the whole show to ‘do the best we know’. Too is half-assed — for what could optimistic? Please heavens not. be madder than turning Candide into a musical? You’re adapting a Happy Birthday, Mr Bernstein! satire on optimism to a medium where optimism is mandatory.’

In the musical version, Voltaire’s skepticism is overthrown in the final moments. Bernstein’s Stuart Maunder incurable optimism turns General Director of New Zealand Opera and Voltaire’s moral, “Il faut cultiver Director of tonight’s production of Candide Creative Friedlander Foundation Proudly by the supported DNZM Dame Jenny Gibbs Proudly by supported

Conductor — Wyn Davies Director — Stuart Maunder Wyn works extensively as a conductor and For the last thirty years Stuart has been teacher and has been Director of Music at directing opera and music theatre in New Zealand Opera since 2005. Orchestral Australasia, United Kingdom and the USA. engagements include Hallé Orchestra, Currently General Director of New Zealand Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC National Opera, Stuart has directed Tosca, Sweeney Orchestra of Wales, BBC Scottish Symphony Todd and The Mikado for the Company. In Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, July he will take up the position of Artistic and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Director of State Opera South Australia.

Designer — Roger Kirk Lighting Designer — Trudy Dalgliesh Roger is a Tony Award-winning set and One of Australia’s most sought after Lighting costume designer for theatre, film and Designers, Trudy’s awards include: Helpmann, television who has designed costumes for The ‘Entech’, Green Room, and John Truscott Design Boy From Oz with Hugh Jackman, The King Award for Excellence. Lighting Designer in and I and King Kong the Musical. Roger has 2018 for: In the Heights, The Cunning Little worked extensively on set and costume design Vixen, Carousel, and Associate Lighting for Opera Australia. Designer for: The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

Sound Designer — Jim Atkins Choreographer — Yvette Lee Jim Atkin’s recent work includes sound design Working for more than a decade in the dance and operation for Nixon in China (Auckland industry, Yvette has established herself as one Arts Festival); Victorian Opera’s productions of Australia’s leading choreographers. She of Sunday in the Park with George, Into the has worked alongside some of the world’s Woods, Sweeney Todd, The Riders, The leading musical talent and her extensive Flying Dutchman, Nixon in China, Banquet portfolio includes television, film, theatre and of Secrets and Dark Rider; and Ring Cycle live events. (Opera Australia). Cast

Candide — James Benjamin Rodgers Voltaire / Dr Pangloss — Reg Livermore Born in Wellington, New-York based tenor Over his six decade career Reg has performed James has performed both Opera and Music many times with Opera Australia and Victoria Theatre. NZO roles include Anthony Hope: State Opera, in his own original works and Sweeney Todd, Kudrjas: Kátya Kabanová the first Australian productions of Hair, Jesus and Spoletta: Tosca. Upcoming roles include Christ Superstar and The Rocky Horror Show. Camille: The Merry Widow and Quasimodo: He won a Helpmann Award for his Wizard in Hunchback of Notre Dame. He is a passionate Wicked in 2015, and is the recipient of three advocate of the art song repertoire. Lifetime Achievement Awards. their continued support and NZO acknowledges Circle 100 scholarship previous recipient of the James Harrison is a Scholar Ryman Mina Foley

Maximilian — James Harrison Cunégonde — Amelia Berry James studied at the Royal College of Music Born in Wellington, Amelia Berry graduated then went on to the National Opera Studio. with a first-class honours degree from the He has appeared in concerts at the Royal New Zealand School of Music, continuing her Albert Hall, the Barbican, Wigmore Hall studies at the prestigious Manhattan School and St John’s Smith Square. He has recently of Music. She has performed extensively for moved back to New Zealand and is now New Zealand Opera and is a previous winner in demand here as both a performer and of the Napier Aria, New Zealand Aria, teacher. Wellington Aria and Otago Daily Times Aria. Emerging Artist Dame Malvina Major

Paquette — Natasha Wilson The Old Lady — Jacqueline Dark Natasha made her professional debut with Jacqueline is a multiple Helpmann and Green New Zealand Opera in The Mikado. She has Room Award-winning mezzo soprano. Fricka: performed internationally with the Australian Der Ring des Nibelungen, Amneris: Aida Brandenburg Orchestra and in 2017, was (Opera Australia); Herodias: Salome (OA, selected for the inaugural Dame Malvina Opera Hong Kong); Santuzza: Cavalleria Major Foundation Opera Studies programme. rusticana (Adelaide); Mother Abbess: The She is a member of the Kiri Te Kanawa Sound of Music (Gordon Frost). Soloist with Foundation’s mentoring programme. all the Australasian symphony orchestras.

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Chorus Production

Byron Coll Byron New Zealand Whakaari: of Toi A graduate is an award-winning Byron School, Drama has been working consistently in actor who years. film and television for over 10 theatre, the with Candide is his second appearance in having played Koko Opera, New Zealand of production critically acclaimed 2017 the Mikado. The Robert Tucker Robert PerformerRobert at the was an Emerging and Freemasons Studio Opera Australian Opera. with New Zealand Scholar Opera include Kuligin: roles NZO Some previous Mikado, The Pish-Tush: Kabanová, Kátya Douphol: Baron Sweeney Todd, Adolfo Pirelli: Masetto: Brass Poppies, La traviata, Tommo: Don Giovanni. Kanen’s appearances include Rodolfo in Baz in Baz include Rodolfo appearances Kanen’s Witch the La Bohème, Broadway Luhrman’s Saul for 2017 of Endor in Adelaide Festival’s principal won a Helpmann Award, which he Victorian Opera, Australia, for Opera roles and Queensland, Pinchgut Opera Opera 2017 performances in NZO’s of Nanki Poo Mikado. season of The Governor / Vanderdendur— Kanen Breen Kanen / Vanderdendur— Governor

Cast Wardrobe Room Assistant Second Violins Horns Amy Craven, Tanya Kakoma, Dianna Cochrane∞, Xin Nicola Baker∞, Emma Grace Lethbridge (intern) (James) Jin+, William Eden*, Carl Wells#, Simon Dressers Bridget Brian, Hanfling#, Rae Crossley- Williams#, David Kay Gayle Jackson = Croft , Sarah Hart, Jocelyn Trumpets Head of Wigs & Makeup Healy, Rachel Moody, Huw Dann∞, Josh Rogan# Charlie Oswin Milena Parobczy, Ewa Bass Trombone Wigs & Makeup Supervisor Sadag, Katherine Walshe Timothy Sutton* Rachel Johanson Violas Wigs & Makeup Assistants Robert Ashworth∞, David Tuba Hayley Ness, Freya de Raadt, Samuel+, Christine Bowie#, Tak Chun Lai* Abby Swain, Abi Taylor Anne Draffin#, Helen Bevin, Timpani Set Construction Ping Tong Chan, Gregory Steven Logan∞ β Matt Munford, Glen Birch McGarity, Susan Wedde (2 Construct) Percussion Cellos ∞ Props Master Eric Renick , Jennifer Bec Ehlers (BECreative) David Garner+, Liliya Raven#, Shane Currey Arefyeva, Katherine Hebley, Music Staff Harp You Lee, James sang-oh Yoo, Répétiteur Sharolyn Rebecca Harris* Callum Hall Kimmorley & David Kelly Basses Special Thanks Gordon Hill∞, Annabella Pultron Composites Ltd, Zilber+, Evgueny Juggernaut, Empire Electrical Lanchtchikov#, Matthias Services, Angus Simmons, Erdrich, Michael Steer Thomas Bray. Flutes Melanie Lançon∞, Kathryn Moorhead+

Piccolo

Orchestra Jennifer Seddon-Mori* Auckland Philharmonia Oboes Orchestra Bede Hanley∞, Camille Music Director Wells+ Giordano Bellincampi Cor Anglais Concertmaster Martin Lee* Andrew Beer Clarinets Associate Concertmaster Bridget Miles (Bass Liu-Yi Retallick Clarinet)+, James Fry (Eb Assistant Concertmaster Clarinet)+ Miranda Adams Bassoons ◊ Dame Malvina Major First Violins Ingrid Hagan∞, Yang Rachel Emerging Artist Artur Grabczewski#, Guan Ebbett+ ∆ Freemasons New Zealand Mark Bennett, Elzbieta Opera Artist Contrabassoon ∞ Section Principal Grabczewska, Ainsley Ruth Brinkman* = Section Leader Emeritus Murray, Alexander Shapkin, Trombones * Principal Caroline von Bismarck, + Associate Principal ∞ Yanghe Yu, Lucy Qi Zhang, Douglas Cross , Mark # Sub-Principal Yuri Cho Close# ~ APO Orchestral Fellow