UBC Opera’s stellar production of Leonard Bernstein’s classic satirical comic operetta Candide has captivated audiences from beginning to end, thanks to the cast’s superb vocals, the enchanting score, and the spectacular storyline. The show was held at the UBC Old Auditorium from February 5th to 8th.
Directed by renowned Canadian soprano, educator, and Chair of the Voice and Opera Divisions at the UBC School of Music, Nancy Hermiston, Candide follows the misadventures of the naïve young man Candide (Ben Lewandowski) as he travels the world, testing his tutor Dr. Pangloss’s (Ezekiel Wang) philosophy that “all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.”
Candide is a distinctive blend of opera, operetta, and Broadway musical theatre. Conducted by Jonathan Girard, Director of Orchestras at the UBC School of Music, it features a varied score that mixes European operetta styles with Latin American dance rhythms, performed by the UBC Symphony Orchestra.
The addition of narrator Christopher Gaze served as a crucial guide throughout the chaotic, globe-trotting journey. He often addressed the audience directly, helping to bridge the rapid scene changes in an entertaining and comical way.
Candide’s central message is to reject blind optimism, accept the world’s flaws, and build our own happiness through practical, meaningful work, as captured in the final anthem, “Make Our Garden Grow.”
This was my first opera, and I’m truly honoured to have been invited by UBC Opera. I would gladly come again!
Rating: 4/5
Date watched: February 8th, 2026
Location: UBC Old Auditorium (Vancouver, BC)
Theatre 604 
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