Cunégonde

Cunégonde is a fictional character in Voltaire's novel Candide. She is the title character's aristocratic cousin.

At the beginning of the story, Candide is chased away from his uncle's home after he is caught kissing Cunegonde. Shortly afterwards, Cunegonde's family is attacked by a band of marauding soldiers and she is taken prisoner. However, Cunegonde soon becomes the mistress of two wealthy Portuguese who decide to share her between them. Candide kills the two men and he, Cunegonde and the Old Woman (Cunegonde's servant) flee to Buenos Aires.

There, Cunegonde becomes the mistress of the provincial governor. Since Candide is wanted for the murders of the two Portuguese, he is forced to leave her in Buenos Aires. However he vows to find her and marry her. Finally, near the end of the novel, Candide finds Cunegonde near Constantinople, but she has lost her beauty. Candide reluctantly agrees to marry her.

In the musical version, Cunegonde is a soprano, who sings one of the most difficult arias written for theatre: Glitter and Be Gay. She is usually regarded as the lead female role, but occasionally a good Old Lady will give her a run for her money. The role has been portrayed by skilled actresses such as Kristin Chenoweth and a young Barbara Cook, who originated the role in 1956.

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