Sydney Philharmonia Releases Casting Details for CANDIDE

2018 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs will acknowledge thissignificant anniversary by participating in the global celebrations to honour Bernstein's legacy, with two planned performances of the choral masterpiece, Candide (1956) on Saturday 29th September and Sunday 30th September 2018 at the Sydney Opera House.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs has announced Alexander Lewis, Caroline O'Connor, Annie Aitken and Kanen Breen will perform the leading roles in their performances of Candide. Candide will be played by Alexander Lewis. With worldwide operatic engagements and acclaimed performances in musical theatre, Australian tenor Alexander Lewis is forging a unique appearances have been in The Merry Widow and The Nose for Opera Australia.

Annie Aitken, an up and coming star who has just finished performing in Muriel's Wedding and played Nellie Melba in Melba at the Hayes Theatre, will fill the role of Candide's fiancée, Cunegonde.

Fresh from her starring role in Anastasia on Broadway, Caroline O'Connor's international renown shines light not only on her immense creative skills and talent, but also her passion, her dedication, and her boundless energy. She remains one of the most respected, admired and sought after triple threats in show business. Caroline will be playing the role of The Old Lady.

Kanen Breen is a leading Australian tenor who has been a full time principal artist with Opera Australia since 2004, most recently starring in The Nose and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Kanen will play the role of Maximilian.

Leonard Bernstein is widely considered to be the greatest 20th century American composer, conductor and music educator. As a musician he was so closely bound up with the emotional, political and artistic climate of his day that his ideas about music, education and the role of art in our everyday lives still resonate and inspire us nearly a hundred years on. Bernstein was dedicated to promoting young artists and to providing exceptional public music education to children via concerts and television shows.

In this tribute year to Bernstein, for whom the development of the next generation of artists was critical, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs is committed to supporting the careers of emerging artists, and providing a platform for them to gain valuable experience. This concert series will be a collaboration with Pacific Opera and Sydney Youth Orchestras. Our 300-strong Festival Chorus will perform alongside soloists, young artists and musicians. This partnership will enhance the artistic reputation of all the participants. Supporters will cherish the role they have played in placing young Australian artists in the global spotlight.

Saturday 29 September at 8pm
Sunday 30 September at 1pm

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

Book by Hugh Wheeler
Based on the satire by Voltaire
Lyrics by Richard Wilbur
With additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Dorothy Parker, Lilliam Hellman and Leonard Bernstein

Orchestration by Leonard Bernstein and Hershy Kay
Musical continuity and additional orchestration by John Mauceri

www.sydneyphilharmonia.com.au