Is Candide an opera?

My church's opera group is going to watch Candide in August. Yesterday, to write a blurb for the church newsletter and to confirm that the DVD was usable, I watched an English presentation conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

It was, to me, remarkably affecting. It was, however, not acted. The orchestra and chorus were on the stage, and the lead players were at the front of the stage with chairs to sit in when they were not singing. I looked at BN.COM for a version that was acted and found one that was partially staged; I will probably have a look at it.

So, is this an opera?

Robert

Candide is, indeed, an opera. You just happened to get a DVD of a concert version. (I don't think there is a video of a fully staged production.) I've seen concert versions of Verdi's Otello, Golijov's Ainadamar and others, They're still operas!

Well, I've ordered a staged performance of Candide. Apparently the action takes place among the orchestra and chorus. I'm thinking it might be a little like the staging of Tea that I've seen on DVD.

Robert