Candide
January 14, 2025
New World Center
Candide
January 16, 2025
Broward Center
Candide
January 19, 2025
Tennessee Williams Theatre
South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO) is back for its most thrilling masterworks season, yet as it celebrates Icons & Rebels – composers, artists and storytellers who left an indelible mark on classical music history!
It’s the Symphony meets Broadway, “the best of all possible worlds,” as the region’s only female-led orchestra presents its grandest and most ambitious premiere to date – the dazzling spectacle of Leonard Bernstein’s satirical masterpiece Candide.
Classical music fans are in for an unexpected treat as award-winning music director Sebrina María Alfonso conducts this sweeping semi-staged concert version of Candide, which follows in the manner of Lonny Price’s 2004 production for the New York Philharmonic, made popular through the PBS series “Great Performances.” Candide’s Stage Director Dan Wallace Miller has updated this offbeat operetta production for SFSO infusing it with a “2025 sensibility.”
Get ready for period costumes that evolve with the story, elaborate fight scenes, intricate make-up and over-the-top wigs as Bernstein’s acclaimed masterpiece is played out with the orchestra, minimal sets, a dynamic cast of actor-vocalists featuring David Walton (Candide); Chelsea Lehnea (Cunegonde); Jason Zacher (Dr. Pangloss/Voltaire); Alissa Anderson (The Old Lady), Lovell Rose (Maximilian), and the South Florida Symphony Chorus performing all together on stage.
“Our premiere of Candide is a rare opportunity to experience one of Bernstein’s most thought-provoking masterpieces – a thrilling blend of outrageous humor, poignant storytelling, and unforgettable music that follows the endlessly optimistic Candide on his quest for the best of all possible worlds,” says Maestra Alfonso. “From wars and earthquakes to shipwrecks and heartbreak, it’s a globetrotting adventure of calamities and self-discovery. I am always eager to program unexpected and exciting works, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to present this unique adaptation, one of our boldest and most ambitious premieres since Porgy and Bess, to our South Florida audiences. Buckle up because we are all in for one heck of a ride.”
Experience Candide’s riotous journey as he embarks on a whirlwind adventure teeming with humor, unexpected twists, and profound philosophical reflections. Bernstein’s iconic music, adapted from Voltaire’s famed Enlightenment-era novella, sets the backdrop for an unforgettable evening filled with laughter and existential musings. An equal opportunity offender, Candide spares no one. Everything and everyone is fair game in this irreverent satire.
From the over-the-top heights of Cunegonde’s “Glitter and Be Gay” and the rarely heard comedic duet “We Are Women” to the stirring depths of Candide’s introspective ponderings, audiences will enjoy a provocative perspective on life’s absurdities and the enduring pursuit of optimism.
Adding sparkle to the premiere evening on January 16 at Broward Center, SFSO invites patrons to attend the “Glitter and Be Gay Gala” 2025. The separately ticketed formal gala evening (held prior to the performance), will recognize Distinguished Corporate Leaders honorees Mark Kravitz and Aviah Flagler Village and Sound of Success honorees BBX Capital, Alejandro Blasenheim, Shelly Bradshaw of Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Community Foundation of Broward, Funding Arts Broward, Kate and Brent Nelson, Nicklaus Children’s Health System and David Valkema of the Maval Foundation. These individuals have been instrumental in supporting SFSO’s impactful artistic, educational, and community outreach initiatives.
Festivities begin at 5 p.m. and include bubbles and hors d’oeuvres on the Wendt Terraces courtesy of Provocativo Cava Brut, a multi-course dinner in the Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom, the Candide performance in the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and dancing and dessert with the artists post-performance in the Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom. Tickets start at $500 and can be purchased at Southfloridasymphony.org/gala-2025.
From sold-out masterworks performances to accompanying today’s musicians such as Natalie Merchant and performing modern musical scores, South Florida’s largest symphonic orchestra is continuing its journey of excellence inspiring audiences of all ages and musical genres. This year, audiences will be treated to a tantalizing season featuring upcoming Symphony premieres and works by Mozart, Strauss, Berlioz, Prokofiev and Bruckner.
Founded in 1997 in Key West by Music Director Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso, the now Fort Lauderdale-based orchestra is celebrating its 27th season. SFSO is dedicated to providing enriching cultural music experiences to residents and visitors in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Guided by the belief that music is pivotal to thriving communities, SFSO brings vibrancy and engagement with the arts via innovative programming and transformative educational initiatives. A pioneer in its commitment to symphonic music for underserved communities, its Symphony in the Schools program has touched the lives of over 150,000 students since its inception in 1997. SFSO has been recognized by the Broward County Cultural Division as a “Major Cultural Institution,” one of only a handful of organizations to be so honored.
For additional information, visit Southfloridasymphony.org, call (954) 522-8445 or email info@southfloridasymphony.org.
Content Courtesy of Fran Frolic, Goodman Public Relations
