In a whirlwind of humor, heart, and breathtaking high notes, SFCM’s Candide left the audiences both dazzled and delighted.

Featuring an ensemble cast, Leonard Bernstein’s funny, philosophical, and fast-paced take on Voltaire’s biting 1759 satire was unlike anything many students had ever done before. “My favorite part was the freedom that comes with performing this sort of comic satire,” said B Schaubhut (‘26)  who played Maximillian and was part of the chorus ensemble. “I felt I could really just act a fool, and our director was excellent at shaping that energy into a really wild production.” Students put on two performances in March to completely packed audiences in the Caroline H. Hume Concert hall. 

Students perform in "Candide" on Friday, March 14.

“This process didn’t just reaffirm my love for the show, it reaffirmed my love and passion for singing,” said Shiddharth (Sid) Chand ('25) who played the titular character of Candide. “It’s so easy in school to get caught up in systemizing your art, checking boxes, and constantly thinking about progression. But with this show, I found myself thinking, ‘I don’t know when I’ll get to do this again, so I need to be fully present.’ That mindset changed everything.”

“Working on this show was so exciting from the moment we started looking at the music,” said Gianna La Mantia (‘25), who played the Governor and Vanderdendur. “We were able to create a version of this production that was so fun and entertaining while bringing such incredible artistry and talent to the stage.”

"Candide" featured a large ensemble cast with acting, singing, and dancing.

In addition to performing, some cast members helped with costuming or staging. “Deciding which funny bits or costume colors or campy choreography makes the cut into the final product was the biggest takeaway for me,” Schaubhut said. “Even though this show seemed wild and uncontainable at times, every moment and beat was meticulously picked through and adjusted by our director to clearly express his idea of Bernstein’s idea of Voltaire’s idea. It was quite fun!” 

Shiddharth (Sid) Chand performs as the titular character.

In addition to an all-star cast of astounding student voices, the production went above and beyond with sight gags, creative staging, and to-the-hilt acting all under the direction of Frederic Wake-Walker. “The students at SFCM were very well prepared, full of commitment and passion,” Wake-Walker said. “They brought so much skill and many of their own intelligent and sensitive ideas to the process. It was a real joy and fulfilling experience for me to work with them.” 

Wake-Walker is also an Askonas Holt artist, part of the alliance SFCM shares with Opus 3 Artists and PENTATONE records. “The resources at SFCM are extraordinary,” he continued. “In particular the production team brought a level of skill and expertise that meant we could really work at a highly professional level.”

Digital projection technology allowed for dynamic and evolving set designs.

The production got rave reviews from audiences, including the San Francisco Opera’s Matthew Shilvock. “What an absolute triumph!” Shivlock said. “Huge congratulations to the cast, orchestra, creative team and crew of Candide. It was a production both hilarious and heartfelt by Frederic Wake-Walker, conducted with glittering energy by Edwin Outwater and sung and acted brilliantly by SFCM students,” Shilvock added. “It was the best of all possible places to be!”

Other notable attendees included composer Jake Heggie. “I was completely blown away by Candide!” Heggie said. “The talent on display was stunning, the production, the singing, the acting, the orchestra, the conducting, and pacing, every part. It could easily be on Broadway or in a big house somewhere or out on tour!” Heggie has created nine full-length operas and was SFCM’s 2023 commencement speaker as well as workshopped an opera at the Conservatory. “It's just out of this world, and a real testament to the great work being done at SFCM. Mind-blowing,” Heggie added.

Students perform in "Candide."

Candide is an adventure story, a picaresque novel and a satire, all rolled into one. The young and naive Candide stumbles from one misadventure to the next, including fighting in wars, being arrested, nearly burned at the stake, and finding—and subsequently leaving—El Dorado, the mythical City of Gold. To match the ever-changing scenes, imagery utilized the evolving digital technology found in the Concert Hall, allowing for decadent sets that took audiences on journeys around the world. The character of Voltaire was played by special guest Curt Branom.

Students perform a gilded scene of Candide in El Dorado.

While the production had its fun points, for students it was also a huge learning experience. “It was very intense, but helped me work through and prepare for the process of doing a show as a professional in the real world,” La Mantia added, “It was an experience I am so grateful to have had before I graduate from this fabulous conservatory.” 

“I loved every second,” added Chand, who particularly enjoyed working with the director, the orchestra, and his fellow performers. “Laughing with my castmates—to the side and sometimes on-stage—at the sheer ridiculousness of the show and watching everyone bring their own light to an already bright production—those are the moments that made this experience so special.”

Student Syona Ayyankeril performs as Cunegonde.

SFCM Music Director Edwin Outwater conducted a slimmed-down SFCM Orchestra for the first time for an SFCM opera, guiding students through the famously tricky overture.

SFCM produces four fully staged opera and musical theatre productions with full or chamber orchestra per year. And with performances as sharp as Voltaire’s wit and vibrant as Bernstein’s score, the bold energy, unforgettable music, laugh-out-loud moments, and standout vocal performances of this season’s Candide are sure to stick with audiences all the way to El Dorado—and back.

Learn more about studying Opera and Musical Theatre at SFCM.