Tangent Talk: Candide
Optimism in Challenging Times: The Lessons of Voltaire and Bernstein
Get the story behind the story with our Tangent Talk event at the State Library of South Australia. In 2024, South Australia’s flagship theatre and opera companies will come together for the first time in more than a decade, along with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, to present a spectacular concert version of Leonard Bernstein’s beloved comic operetta and existential vaudeville, Candide
Before you see the show, join us for a drink and discussion about the themes of the play, in ‘Optimism in Challenging Times: The Lessons of Voltaire and Bernstein’. We’re joined by an insightful panel, including, expert in the field of philosophy and music Dr Tom Cochrane, Candide Conductor and Head of Music at SOSA Anthony Hunt, comedian and performer Matt Gilbertson (Hans), and SOSA stalwart performer Rosie Hosking. Hosted by Artistic Director, Director of Candide and Dr Pangloss himself Mitchell Butel, our panel will share their insights on Voltaire’s theories on optimism and how this was interpreted by Bernstein.
Date: Monday, 29 April 2024
Time: 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start
Location: Hetzel Lecture Theatre
Institute Building, State Library of South Australia
North Terrace, Adelaide 5000
Tickets: $10 including a wine from SC Pannell
Please contact marketing@statetheatrecompany.com.au if you have any questions.
Meet the Panel
Dr Tom Cochrane
Tom Cochrane is philosopher based at Flinders University, Adelaide. Tom has degrees in both philosophy and music, and was awarded his PhD from the University of Nottingham in 2007. From 2007-2010 he worked at the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva where in addition to working on the philosophy of emotion and art, he collaborated on psychological experiments into musical arousal.
In 2021 he published the monograph ‘The Aesthetic Value of the World’ (Oxford University Press) which develops a theory of aesthetics and how the entire world is a source of aesthetic value. Most recently, he has a popular collection forthcoming with Bloomsbury Academic titled – ‘Identity and Science Fiction: Brain transplants and other misadventures’.
Anthony Hunt
Pianist, Organist and Conductor Anthony Hunt was the Chorus Master at Opera Australia from 2013-2019. In 2020 he returned to Adelaide with his family, commencing as Head of Music & Chorus Master at the State Opera of South Australia, and as Director of Music at St Peter’s Cathedral.
Anthony has been a participant in the Symphony Australia Conductor Development Program, a guest chorus master for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.
Rosie Hosking
Rosie is an award-winning performer whose career spans over 25 years and has seen her perform on the musical theatre, operatic, cabaret and corporate stage both nationally and overseas. Her credits include performances with the State Opera of South Australia, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Adelaide Festival, Cameron Mackintosh, Popjam Productions, Seabiscuit Productions, Six Foot Something Productions, The Factory and Ding! Productions. She studied at the Elder Conservatorium and is now delighted to be lecturing there in the musical theatre degree.
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- Peter Goers ABC Adelaide
Peter Goers
Adelaide-born Peter Goers OAM is an arts critic, producer, director, columnist, actor, comedian and author who hosted The Evening Show for more than 20 years on ABC Radio Adelaide, broadcasting throughout South Australia and Broken Hill. Goers presented his final Evening Show to a live audience at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide on Thursday November 30, 2023.
His career spans over 40 years in the entertainment industry across a range of different mediums and formats including television, print, radio and theatre. Peter was honoured in the 2013 Australia Day Awards with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the community as a radio broadcaster.
In his role at ABC Radio Adelaide, Peter attended more than 1000 community events in Adelaide and regional SA, often as MC, host or simply as a much-loved part of the local community. Mostly recently Peter is directing COWARDY, COWARDY CUSTARD for Holden Street Theatres.
Matt Gilbertson (Hans)
Boozier than Oktoberfest, more drive than a Volkswagen, and more sausage than a bratwurst convention, Hans is Germany’s proudest export. Often referring to himself as the Berlin boy-wonder – Hans is an international superstar, sex symbol, piano accordionist. He has been thrilling audiences around the globe with his own fabulous brand of award-winning comedy cabaret for over 15 years, performing for everyone from Prime Ministers to Princesses, paupers to paper boys. Hans was a Grand Finalist on America’s Got Talent: The Champions in 2020, he won Best Cabaret at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in both 2019 and 2020 and was presented the Icon Award at the 2023 Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Hans is able to remain in Australia on an extended visa due the generous sponsorship of his benefactor, Matt Gilbertson..
