Welsh National Opera’s summer season has been announced, which will include a tour of a new production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide.

Candide will arrive at The Alexandra Birmingham for one night only on Wednesday 12 July 2023.

Ed Lyon stars in a new production of Bernstein’s Candide by award-winning creative team. 18th-century France collides with 20th-century post-war America for a fantastical adventure in WNO’s new production of Bernstein’s Candide. Bernstein’s music combines with the wit of Dorothy Parker in a musical romp that pulls together Broadway, operetta and the satire of Voltaire’s original novella.

WNO’s new production creates an imaginative world of music, animation and dance with political bite. Societies are torn apart by inequality, and families are displaced by war in a story that remains as relevant now as when it was first written in 1759.

The production brings together an award-winning creative team (winners of the National French Critics’ award in 2022 for their production of The Snow Queen) led by director James Bonas. Costume designs are by Nathalie Pallandre with sets by Thibault Vancraenenbroeck, and video and animation design by Grégoire Pont. American conductor Karen Kamensek returns to WNO to conduct.

Tenor Ed Lyon will sing the title role of Candide and will be joined in the cast by Vuvu Mpofu (Cunégonde), Madeleine Shaw (The Old Lady) and Mark Nathan (Maximilian).

Candide plays The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham on Wednesday 12 July. Tickets are available here.