The Best of All Possible Recordings

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The Best of All Possible Recordings

Posted: 12/3/06 at 4:56pm

Does anyone have the 1989 recording of Candide? I noticed it was the most complete one and I'm thinking of picking it up.
The Best of All Possible Recordings

I don't have any recordings of the show, so I was wondering, which is the best in your opinion?

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re: The Best of All Possible Recordings

Posted: 12/3/06 at 4:57pm

i just found this, http://www.geocities.com/bernsteincandide/recordings.html
but I'd still like some of your opinions

re: The Best of All Possible Recordings

Posted: 12/3/06 at 5:14pm

I'd say get it for the authenticity of it, as it was conducted by Bernstein.

But you have to get the original cast album, because it may be the best recording of the overture, ever.

And, there never has been and never will be a better recording of "Glitter and Be Gay" than Barbara Cook's.

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re: The Best of All Possible Recordings

Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:05pm

It's the slowest of all possible recordings, actually.

As someone pointed out, it is the most complete, and it's nice to have a Bernstein-conducted recording. But for me, it's so heavy and leaden that it conveys none of the joy or life of "Candide". In trying to to be so complete and so "classical", it comes off as way overblown, and as I said, the tempi are excruciatingly slow.

I see it as an older man's reflection on his younger work moreso than an "authentic" recording of the piece. It's also probably my least favorite "Candide", save for the '70s revival which I think is musically so far off the mark I really don't see the point. Lots of other people disagree with me on that one, though.

It's still never been better than the OBC, though I do happen to like the Erie Mills '82 City Opera recording best of all the "classical" ones. I haven't heard the Scottish Opera recording, but I've heard it's very good. It's only a highlights recording, but it was the production that led to the Bernstein-conducted recording and has some of the (then) newly-restored music.

re: The Best of All Possible Recordings

Posted: 12/3/06 at 7:00pm

I enjoy Lonnie Price's concert adaptation the best. It has all of my favorite numbers from the show and keeps the tone light. It's a shame that a CD was not released of that cast, but there is, of course, the DVD which is wonderful. You just can't listen to it in the car...

re: The Best of All Possible Recordings

Posted: 12/3/06 at 7:12pm

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Updated On: 12/3/06 at 07:12 PM

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