Bernstein: Candide [Import]

Jerry Hadley (Artist), June Anderson (Artist), Della Jones (Artist), Christa Ludwig (Artist), Nicolai Gedda (Artist), Adolph Green (Artist), Leonard Bernstein (Composer, Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Leonard Bernstein
• Audio CD (July 8, 1991)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GD2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,657 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will probably remain the one to beat, January 6, 2004

By 

Bruce Hodges (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bernstein: Candide (Audio CD)

One runs out of superlatives trying to describe this, one of Bernstein's last projects as conductor. One of his greatest scores, "Candide" has many memorable musical numbers, and here it is almost ideally cast, brimming with great singing, a terrific orchestra and all in wonderfully realistic sound.

Jerry Hadley's beautiful, plaintive voice is ideal here, whether with June Anderson in "Oh Happy We" or by himself in the somber "It Must Be So." Anderson also makes short work of the dazzling "Glitter and Be Gay," one of Bernstein's all time crowd pleasers. And some of the "minor" roles are perfectly cast, such as Adolph Green and Christa Ludwig, the latter especially charming as The Old Lady in the glorious "I Am Easily Assimilated." Even the chorus sounds magnificent, such as in the hilarious "What a Day (For An Auto-Da-Fe)" and climactic "What's the Use."

The original cast recording is a classic, and of course has the great Barbara Cook in her prime. But this one might be considered a gift from its composer/conductor, with its strong cast, terrific sound, and inspired direction by one of the greatest conductors (and composers) ever.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS IS THE GREAT BERNSTEIN, March 31, 2004

By 

W. Hidalgo Salas (Lima, Perú) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bernstein: Candide (Audio CD)

When Leonard Bernstein tried to be a "serious" composer, the results were only pretentious. When he wrote "light" music, the results were wonderful and original. In Candide, he is really the great composer Leonard Bernstein. And the great conductor too - he and his cast are unbeatable. I don't care what the Broadway standards are for length of a musical, all the music in this cds is valuable, belongs to the piece and should be heard every time this show is given.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of all possible Musicals!, March 12, 2003

By 

Erik Arnesen (Trondheim, Norway) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bernstein: Candide (Audio CD)

The first Bernstein show I saw/heard was West Side Story, which everyone is familiar with.

It wasn't until last autumn that I started to listen to "Candide". To-day, it's my favorite musical/operetta, and nothing can compare to it!
My friend and I, we study music together, are both great fans of this masterpiece. I really love it!
I haven't heard any recordings but this one, but nothing could be done better in this production.
The singers are very good, especially Cunegonde. The guy who sings Pangloss isn't a very good singer, but anyway he is perfect for the role.