Glitter and Be Gay

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Glitter and Be Gay is an aria from the operetta Candide, sung by the character of Cunegonde. It was written by Leonard Bernstein and Richard Wilbur. The tune of the up-tempo section ("Ha ha, ha ha ha ha") is well-known from its prominence in the show's overture, as well as from its use for years as the theme music of Dick Cavett's talk show.

This aria poses considerable difficulties. Technically, it is among the most fiendishly challenging coloratura soprano arias. If sung as written throughout (alternative phrases are provided at several points in the score), there are three high E-flats (above high C), two staccato and one sustained; there are also numerous uses of high C and D-flat. Some of the florid passages are very intricate, calling for marksmanship of the highest order. Theatrically, it demands an elaborate comic staging (in which Cunegonde adorns herself with jewelry while singing and dancing around the stage), and has a satirical quality that is a challenge to perform.

"Glitter and Be Gay" was introduced by Barbara Cook. She discussed the most difficult part of this aria - the "Ha ha hahahaha" section-- with Renee Fleming for Opera News in December of 2001:

Barbara Cook: It was terrible how nervous I was. I'd been singing stuff like "I'll be loving you always," and here I was singing Cunegonde. You know what else is hard with that thing? Lenny insisted on the "Ha-ha-ha"s really being "Hha-hha-hha"s. No "Ah-ee-ah-ee-ah"s but "Ha-ha-ha-HA-ha-ha"s. And I was never, never able to do it the way he really, really wanted it done. He wanted the ...

Renee Fleming: You mean the aspiration?

Barbara Cook: Oh, that. I did do that. But what he wanted was the syncopation. So it would have to be [speaks, beating time], "Ha-ha-hahahaha. HAhahahaHAhahaha." You try that on for size. That's hard, because you are losing all that air.

Apart from Cook, most other singers of this aria generally simplify this section by eliminating the aspirated "H's" and sing staccatti instead.

Subsequent performers of the role of Cunegonde have included:

Mary Costa (in the 1959 London premiere)
Madeline Kahn (in a 1968 concert version)
Maureen Brennan (In Hal Prince's first broadway revival of the show in 1974)
Erie Mills (at the New York City Opera in 1982)
June Anderson (under Bernstein's direction in concerts and a recording shortly before his death)
Constance Hauman (understudy to Anderson, filled in for at least one performance)
Elizabeth Futral (at Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1994)
Michael Callen (in his 1996 posthumously released LEGACY 2-CD album)
Harolyn Blackwell (in Hal Prince's 1997 Broadway revival of the show).
Kristin Chenoweth (in a 2004 concert production with the New York Philharmonic)

This aria has been performed in concert by many musical theatre and opera stars, including (in addition to those listed above): Diana Damrau, Natalie Dessay, Renée Fleming, Edita Gruberová, Sumi Jo, Roberta Peters, and Dawn Upshaw.