New York City Opera Adds 4 Performances of Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Candide’ Due to Popular Demand

By David Salazar

The New York City Opera has just added four performances to its upcoming run of Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide,” citing popular demand.

The opera was originally scheduled for performances from January 6 through 12, but four additional presentations have from Jan. 13-15.

The opera will be directed by legendary director Harold Prince, best known for his work on Broadway where he directed  original Broadway productions of Kander and Ebb’s “Cabaret,” Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Evita” and “The Phantom of the Opera” and numerous Stephen Sondheim’s classics such as “Pacific Overtures,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Merrily We Roll Along.” He has also directed opera, including a 1983 production of “Turandot” starring Evan Marton and Jose Carreras in Vienna.

He has also directed “Candide” with New York City Opera in 1982 and 2008.

“I anticipate this production of Candide with great enthusiasm. We’ve made some changes and right now this material is as relevant as it could ever be. I expect the audience will connect with its message,” said Prince in a press release form the NYC Opera.

The opera will be celebrating its 60th anniversary, having premiered on Dec. 1, 1956. Prince, alongside Hugh Wheeler, put together a one-act version that ran on Broadway for 740 performances before being used for New York City Opera’s “opera house version” in 1982.

“Ever since Harold Prince adapted it for New York City Opera in 1982, Bernstein’s Candide has been an audience favorite, and remains the most successful show in the company’s history,” said New York City Opera General Director Michael Capasso. “I am delighted to be bringing back this iconic work as the centerpiece of this pivotal City Opera season.”

The opera stars Tony Award-nominee Gregg Edelman, Tony Award-winner Linda Lavin, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Mehan Picerno, Keith Phares, Jessica Tyler White and Broadway favorites Chip Zien and Brooks Ashmanskas. The venue for all the performances will be at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater.

Categories

IndieOperaNews