‘Candide’ about loss of optimism, coming of age

IU Opera & Ballet Theater premiered “Candide,” a coming-of-age operetta about a young man’s loss of optimism, last weekend.

The music for the production was written by Leonard Bernstein, but “Candide” was inspired by the novel of the same name by the 18th-century philosopher Voltaire.

“Candide” marks Stage Director Candace Evans’ first time working with IU Opera & Ballet Theater, and Evans took a realistic, step-by-step approach by using the chorus as a group of “spirit leaders” to narrate events onstage to guide the audience through the story.

The play is advertised by IU Opera & Ballet Theater as both colorful and comical, with soul-inspiring songs that connect the audience to characters.

The show will be performed again Friday and Saturday night, and tickets can be purchased online at music.indiana.edu/opera or at the Musical Arts Center box office. Tickets are available at a discounted price for students.

— Nona Tepper