17.01.2024

NIKOLA HILLEBRAND debuts as Cunegonde in Bernstein's Candide at Theater an der Wien

Bernstein's Candide is based on Voltaire's novella "Candide: the best of all possible worlds". This in turn is to be seen against the backdrop of Gottfried Leipniz's thesis that we are living in the best of all possible worlds. However, the incorrigible optimist Candide experiences the gruesome opposite: he stumbles from one catastrophe to another, ranging from war and earthquakes to the fact that his lover Cunegonde turns out to be a perpetual prostitute and money-hungry temptress.

Nikola Hillebrand is able to demonstrate her tremendous vocal flexibility and zest for acting in this new production as Cunegonde. With her enchanting charm, her acting skills and the luminosity in her voice, she will bring a very versatile Cunegonde to the stage.

Leonard Bernstein's score, which he himself reworked several times, is a homage to European music history, full of parodistic humour. His music is also incredibly brilliant and extremely entertaining. It can also be understood as a timeless commentary on the nature of man and life in this world.

Marin Alsop, chief conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and herself a pupil of Bernstein, conducts Candide; the American director Lydia Steier stages the operetta as a grand stage show.

Leonard Bernstein: Candide

Matthew Newlin, Candide
Nikola Hillebrand, Cunegonde
James Newby Maximilian
Ben McAteer, Dr. Pangloss
Helene Schneidermann, Old Lady
Vincent Glander, Voltaire
Mark Milhofer, Captain/Governor/Vanderdendur

ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien
Arnold Schoenberg Choir (Director: Erwin Ortner)
Marin Alsop, Musical director
Lydia Steier, Director
Momme Hinrichs, Staging and video
Ursula Kudrna, Costume
Elana Siberski, Lighting
Kai Weßler, Dramaturgy