"...a joyous and uplifting evening" Andy Lumsden

Welsh National Opera’s Candide was a joyous and uplifting evening, filled with energy, humour and memorable music. Bernstein’s satirical operetta is never easy to stage, but WNO struck just the right balance between comedy and sincerity, with a cast and orchestra that kept the audience engaged from start to finish.

Ed Lyon made a charming Candide, his bright tenor perfectly capturing the character’s wide-eyed optimism.

There was real warmth in his performance, and as Candide’s journey grew darker, Lyon gave the role touching depth without ever losing its innocence.

Soraya Mafi was a delight as Cunegonde. Her dazzling aria Glitter and Be Gay was one of the evening’s highlights, sung with sparkling vocal agility and playful comic flair.

Mafi’s ability to pair vocal brilliance with humour made the character both funny and sympathetic. Together, she and Lyon shared a believable chemistry that gave the story heart.

The WNO orchestra played with vigour, bringing out the full sweep of Bernstein’s eclectic score, from sweeping romance to Broadway sparkle.

The chorus added vibrancy and sharp comic timing, particularly in the bustling ensemble numbers.

Visually, the staging was full of colour and wit, with costumes and sets that leaned into the parody without losing sight of the story’s emotional core.

The animated set design incorporated fantastical elements to bring the story to life, including a suspended fishing boat, to create the supercharged ‘wild ride’ through all the geographical settings including the Alps, Lisbon and the Amazon rainforest.

The evening ended with a moving performance of Make Our Garden Grow.

After all the chaos and comedy, this heartfelt finale brought a quiet optimism that resonated with the audience - the perfect close to a sparkling production.  

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Ed Lyon was interviewed by Andy Lumsden on his Voice FM show Classics at One, hear the conversation here: