Leonard Bernstein - Bernstein - Candide [DVD] [2014]

How could one better Bernstein's own recording of his 1956 Candide? The soloists are mostly excellent. Jerry Hadley makes for a good optimistic and naive Candide; June Anderson's Candide is a spoilt madam with complete control over her voice, most obviously in 'Glitter and be Gay'; Christa Ludwig makes a very good woman with only one buttock, and it's rather charming to see her in the background during other numbers, smiling at the subtle jokes. Pangloss is a good choice too.The quality of the recording is not brilliant - there is one awful moment of June Anderson being out of focus for what is far too long - but given the age, date, and probably the size of audience purchasing this DVD, it may not have proved economic to fully master it.The overall joy of this recording, however, is Bernstein. He jumps and bounces about, bring the best out of the London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, his facial expressions being among the most exciting of any conductor I have seen.All in all, a superb buy.

It took me a while to get into Candide, but now knowing Voltaire's story it makes sense, and I love it. Worth the money for the overture and the finale.

Old recording, great to see the old maestro himself, Candide is hard to understand, but that is nothing to do with the actual performance, or the quality of the DVD. Would recommend to fans.

This has to be one of the best company performing Candide and having Bernstein conducting his work was an added bonus.

Lovely because it has all the music, but what a shame it wasn't acted on stage.

DVD is brilliant! Great music and conducted by the wonderful man himself. Could only put 4 stars though because I misread and thought it was an actual performance. It is, however, only a concert type thing. Everyone stands and sings instead of acting. Still brilliant though, everything spot on :)

In 1989, Leonard Bernstein committed to record what was to be a definitive version of his masterpiece (my opinion) "Candide", which despite a host of wonderful melodies, has enjoyed a somewhat chequered career. Accompanying the recording was a series of concerts and this DVD is a record of one of them. Despite most of the cast (and the conductor/composer) being afflicted with heavy colds, the DVD is wonderfully enjoyable, a fantastic record of what must have been a memorable evening. Moreover, it is an almost ideal performance of a work which has proved perennially difficult to stage, helped to a large extent by the witty linking narration (written by the composer and John Wells), which is truer to the spirit of Voltaire's original "conte" than any staged production can be. As such, I find the DVD more satisfying than the CD (which I also own). The narration is wittily delivered by the composer, Kurt Ollman, an amusingly conceited Maximilian, and Adolph Green, who plays both Pangloss and Martin. You can't help but like Mr G (and marvel at his teeth) and the obvious rapport and friendship he has with Lenny is really quite endearing, but somehow I would have preferred the sort of singer/actor schooled in G&S, perhaps someone like Nickolas Grace, who performed the role for Scottish Opera, or Richard Suart, here one of a group of male comprimario singers which includes such luminaries as Neil Jenkins, John Treleaven and Clive Bayley. Jerry Hadley is perfect in the title role, despite audibly suffering from a cold and June Anderson makes much of "Glitter and be gay". The great Christa Ludwig has a rare old time as the Old Lady, really throwing herself into the spirit of things and while the same cannot be said of Nicolai Gedda, his ageing but still virile tenor is still a delight to hear in his various assignments. Della Jones is luxury casting in the tiny part of Paquette and the members of the chorus seize their opportunities gratefully in their brief solo spoken utterances. It is a wonderful DVD; buy it!

This is one of the most brilliant things I have ever seen - Leonard Bernstein is wonderful, as are all the other performers (because he is a performer too). And the lyrics are the wittiest ever. I cannot recommend this too highly to anyone who loves Bernstein, opera or comedy or Voltaire.