Sharpenicity

CANDIDE - WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA  CELEBRATES BERNSTEIN   IN THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WAYS The Washington National Opera celebrated the “Kennedy Center’s Leonard  Bernstein at 100 “in the best of all possible ways, with this   new-to-Washington production of Candide . Francesca Zambello directs the stellar cast — tenor Alek Shrader in his WNO debut in the title role,  soprano Emily Pogorelc as his forlorn love interest Cunegonde, and WNO audience favorite and local legend Denyce Graves as the Old Lady.   Nicole Paiment conducted Bernstein’s effervescent score. Candide is a literary as well as a musical treat.  This version of  Voltaire’s original story was adapted by Hugh Wheeler and revised by John Cair, with lyrics by poet Richard Wilbur, and nods to Lillian Hellman, Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, and Dorothy Parker.   Leonard Bernstein also had a go at giving Candide just the right words to his score.   Wow! ...