Course Description

Instructor: John Bayne

Leonard Bernstein's operetta (his term) Candide is based on Voltaire's 1759 satire. The text was written by many collaborators, including the playwright Lillian Hellman, the poet Richard Wilbur, the lyricist Stephen Sondheim, and Bernstein himself. It was first performed on Broadway in 1956, and was much revised over the following decades. It pokes fun at the the philosophy of "Optimism," that is, "everything that is, is good."

The story is fast-moving and funny, and the music is very appealing. Its overture is an orchestral staple and served as the theme song for the Dick Cavett Show.

This class will present some of the highlights of Candide in anticipation of an OLLI at Emory meet-up to see the matinee performance of Atlanta Opera's new production 12 March at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.