Candide 2022Scottish Opera
Read more about the opera Candide
It seems astonishing that it is well over thirty years since Scottish Opera mounted its last Candide staging - conducted and edited by John Mauceri, directed by Jonathan Miller, and with the composer in the Theatre Royal for the TV broadcast. Back in 1988 the piece was little known, notwithstanding a wonderfully enjoyable Birmingham Rep production at the 1981 Edinburgh Festival. While it would be a great exaggeration to say that Candide performances are now commonplace, the work is certainly much better known.
How good to see, in the company's sixtieth anniversary year, Scottish Opera taking a second look. This cast was generally superb with two surprising elements being the casting of Susan Bullock in the amusing Old Lady role and dramatic tenor Ronald Samm in the various Pangloss parts. Soprano Paula Sides is a familiar name in Perth, due to many visits to the Perth Festival with ETO, but made a long overdue appearance in Glasgow. William Morgan, in the title role, benefitted from his recent experience in the companu's G & S production's - Candide does reflect the composer's own enthusiasm for that repertoire.
What was particularly novel this time is that the production took place in a huge marquee, reminiscent of the 'Paisley Opera House' used for Pagliacci a few years ago. This time several stages were located in the space behind the company's studios, up toward the canal.. The emphasis was very much on displacement, which is, after all, the main theme of the work.
An amateur chorus was recruited from the large community of displaced persons who have recently arrived in Glasgow.
