Best Candide Recording?- Page 2

[elmore3003]

Posted: 6/1/08 at 9:03pm

For all of you who, like me, think little of the recording conducted by Bernstein, I think he comes off much better on the DVD of the London concert. Bernstein's comments are interesting and he paces the music better there than on the CDs.

After seeing Chenoweth and hearing her sing "My Life On The Stage" at Encores! STAIRWAY TO PARADISE, I think she's vastly overrated and needs to spend some time getting her operatic chops back in shape: she's sloppy and thinks that camping will distract you from the poor vocalizing.

[mallardo]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 12:43am

Please, the original cast recording is by far the best - it's essential.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 12:58am

I agree, Elmore.

Spork, it's on iTunes if you REALLY want to hear it.

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 1:38am

Chenoweth and Cook

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 3:36am

I downloaded a version by Katrina Murphy that turned out to be a disappointment.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 8:43am

Here's a fun take on "Glitter and Be Gay" from Robert Carsen's recent production in Paris. Owes a debt to Marilyn and to Jack Cole's "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," of course, but still enjoyable.
"Glitter"

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 11:44am

The original Broadway cast will always be my favorite, quickly followed by the New York City Opera recording with Erie Mills.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/2/08 at 1:04pm

Alas, I don't have iTunes D:

Anyway, Anna Christy (apparently that's her name) is super cute in that! I like that staging; it makes a lot of sense to me. Her high notes were very nice and floaty.

Another good performance of it that I'm just now remembering is Diana Damrau's. My friend sent it to me.

[Boq101]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 2:59am

is there really an audio rip of the concert version? i love paul groves.

besides that performance I prefer barbara cook in the original. I wish the scottish version was easier to get a hold of as its got songs I cant find in other recording. I also like the 90's revival recording just because Jason Daniely makes me happy inside. :)

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 11:39am

The Scottish Opera recording is available at the JAY Records site and on iTunes. I might have said this already on this thread, but next to the original, it's my favorite recording of the score.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 11:43am

I was very good friends with Jerry Hadley at the time he did the studio recording with Bernstein. Everyone in the cast came down with some strange case of the flu during the recording period--including Bernstein. If I'm not mistaken, that was the flu that ultimately killed the maestro.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 11:45am

Not too long after the maestro killed his own score...

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 11:46am

How true! How true!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 11:46am

Boq101, I just sent you a PM about the NY Phil concert of Candide.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:01pm

The 1999 Royal National Theater Cast. Amazing.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:11pm

I like the 1999 Royal National Theatre recording, but Alex Kelly's Cunegonde is a problem. She gives it a good shot and sounds like she was very funny, but the vocal demand of the role is just a bit out of her reach. The rewrite of "What's the Use?" is also kind of klutzy.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 12/27/10 at 12:49pm

I disagree about Alex Kelly. I think she's fantastic. Very funny and a lovely, pure sounding voice. I've always felt that she hit those high notes with ease, if not the force that most opera singers do. If anything, I have more of a problem with Daniel Evans as Candide. The score gets to be a problem for HIM sometimes (most noticeably "Oh Happy We" and "Make Our Garden Grow").

The 1999 RNT recording is VERY good, but not the best for, IMO, Daniel Evans and a few rewrites that just don't work (as Smaxies stated, "What's the Use" is one of them). It does have, in my opinion, the best version of "Auto De Fe," "Bon Voyage," and "Best of all Possible Worlds."

The three to get (in order of priority) are: the OBC, the Scottish Opera recording, and then the 1999 RNT recording. The 1973 is fun, but very rough and the 90's Broadway revival is just SO boring. The tempos are slow and everything seems totally forced with Andrea Martin leading the parade as the Old Woman. Harolyn Blackwell delivers probably the least funny "Glitter and Be Gay" ever. Jason Danieley, Brent Barrett and Jim Dale are the only reasons to get it.

As a side note, there's a really fantastic recording of the overture as played by the Boston Pops and conducted by John Williams. It's probably my favorite rendition of the overture. It can be found on iTunes.

[Boq101]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 2:44am

I love doing research on this show the permutations seem never ending! thanks for the info about the Philharmonic givesmevoice!

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 6:59am

The 70s revival, hands down.

Yes, it's rough, but it's supposed to be, much like Voltaire's book, which was anything but polished and operatic. The OBC and the City Opera ones are nice, but overdone (Granted, no one but Cook ever sang "Glitter and Be Gay" in quite so an amazing way; still...).

If you're looking for something that reflects the source material, the 73 is the best.

And definitely agree that the most recent Bway attempt was an opportunity missed so far as to be absurd. What were they thinking???

[Urban]

Posted: 12/28/10 at 9:03am

Somebody mentioned Diana Damrau before. I am one of the hugest fans of her around. Her version, while sung so effortlessly (I don't think she even broke a sweat)... but... I hate to say it... she is no actress. All the videos that exist of her singing it (there are a few out there)... I hate to say it, the acting side of the song is hilariously bad. This doesn't stop my Diana Damrau lovin' but her chewing up the scenery isn't exactly what I figure she was after either.

Saying that I would still be willing to pay outrageous prices to see her live.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/15/13 at 10:38am

Bumping this because of the good information here.

Just recently got onto a Candide kick after rediscovering I had the OBC on vinyl after moving- and, thanks to Spotify, I have been listening to the various recordings and incarnations. The OBC definitely is the most consistently good- though later versions of the score and song list are better (the addition of "Auto Da Fè," changing "The Venice Gavotte" into "Life is Happiness Indeed," the alteration of the plot, etc).

I think the best incarnation of the score, in terms of what songs, and what versions of songs, are actually there, is the Chenoweth/LuPone concert. The Bernstein and National Theatre versions are simply, in my opinion, far too overstuffed, and the always problematic second act particularly padded with unmemorable and unnecessary numbers. (I can't believe Bernstein allowed the addition of two songs about Pangloss's syphilis- ruining "Auto Da Fè in the process)

Candide should be brisk, just as the novella- not a three and a half hour affair.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 6/15/13 at 6:25pm

I have a soft spot for the '99 RNT production, as well. Caird's revised book is IMHO the best of them all. But I wonder if I'd like the recording as much if I hadn't seen it live--it's true the orchestra sounds a bit thin (and padded with keyboards) and Cunegonde, who was brilliantly funny on stage doesn't have the strongest voice.

Kad, I believe the CD release of the OBCR has a few re-instated bits that didn't fit the vinyl.