After a sell-out season in 2016 which included performances of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s State Fair at Cadogan Hall and Alan Menken & Lynn Ahrens’ A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum Theatre followed by Honeymoon In Vegas at the London Palladium in March 2017, the London Musical Theatre Orchestra now returns to Cadogan Hall for its latest concert performance of Candide.
Featuring a score by legendary composer Leonard Bernstein that includes the legendary songs “Glitter and Be Gay”, “We Are Women”, “Nothing More Than This” and the epic “Make Our Garden Grow”, this performance will star Rob Houchen (Les Miserables / Titanic) as Candide. Further names will be announced soon.
This performance heralds the start of next year’s Bernstein centenary celebrations.
Candide tells the story of Candide, the illegitimate cousin of Baron Thunder-Ten-Tonck. He is expelled from home, dragged into the Bulgarian army, brought before the Spanish Inquisition, swindled out of a fortune, shipwrecked on a desert isle, and separated from his true love Cunegonde. She also bears a barrage of misfortunes including sale into prostitution, forced marriage to an exorbitantly wealthy man and slavery. Through it all, however, they try to hold onto the lessons of their dear master Dr. Pangloss: “Everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.”
With a book by Hugh Wheeler and lyrical contributions from the incomparable Stephen Sondheim, Candide is a masterpiece for the ages. Join the 34 piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra under the baton of conductor Freddie Tapner alongside a host of West End stars as they deliver one of the most iconic musical scores of all time.
Candide will play at Cadogan Hall on 21 July 2017
