What is the best of all possible Candides?

[PennybankBill]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 6:55am

I'm kinda new to this Bernstein classic and wondering which recording to actually buy and which ones i should just stick to downloading. Some background info: I have seen at least three Candide video recordings and to me, they were in this order: good
o.k., reallly bad. Is there a good video recording of candide? and if so, where can I find it?

[once a month]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 8:20am

Others will disagree with me but the production featuring Kristin Chenowith and Patti Lupone is my favorite with its infectious spirit of fun. I never tire of the DVD and the music makes me wish to have discovered this classic decades earlier.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 10:55am

I actually fully agree with you, once a month. I find the concert version to be the only version of the show that works. The performances are across-the-board wonderful, it's insanely fun, and it captures the spirit of the Voltaire while simultaneously modernizing it.

[mallardo]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 12:03pm

I don't know about the videos but for a recording nothing tops the original.

[JRybka]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 12:40pm

I absolutely LOVE the LuPone/Chenoweth version. It is so wonderful and fun. I will always go back to that one.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 12:44pm

I have to echo what everyone else said. Go with the OBC for a cast recording and the LuPone/Chenoweth concert staging as a video. I'm also on Team Candide as a Concert Show. The book is challenging enough for audiences to get without adding in symbolic three ring circuses and distracting production elements. The concert staging rips it down to the core essence of satire and lets the music really shine.

[Paul Bland4]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 2:28pm

For me, it's two very different, but complimentary versions, the 1973 Broadway version and the 1982 Opera House version.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 2:52pm

Surely the message of 'Candide' teaches us that there can be no such thing as the perfect Candides.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 3:08pm

In this order:

Original Broadway Cast
1982 New York City Opera
1974 Broadway
1999 Royal National Theatre

[peerrjb]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 3:31pm

The key factoid in listening to the show is that after the 1974 re-do with all the new lyrics by Sondheim, the new Wheeler book, revamping of songs (and score) the original Broadway album (Cook, Adrian, et al) is the "clearest" presentation of what the show was trying to do in the first place, musically. The later versions, representing the 74 changes, are all kinda up for grabs, although the 74 Broadway company still represents the goofy quality Prince and Co. were shooting for....PARTICULARLY in the orchestrations. (And since the original Hellman book is no longer allowed to be used, the 56 paints a different picture of the approach, and the song lyrics and structure reflect that, and is unusual.) So I'd suggest the 56 and 74 for listening.
(Must confess that Chenoweth's "take" on her songs has always struck me as cheap commentary on the character and less character-driven comedy.)

[Owen22]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 3:47pm

Kristen Chenowith is and will probably always be the finest Cunegunde of all time. Besides having the perfect type of soprano for the role, she had the best satiric take and delivery I have ever seen, and doubt ever will see. I didn't love other aspects of this City Opera production, but silently wished Bernstein could come back from the dead for a couple hours just to see this role performed to perfection.

[HistoryBoy2]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 3:51pm

^ I approve of your satire - very appropriate.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/13/11 at 3:29am

For listening pleasure, although I miss some of the new songs, nothing tops the 1950s original Broadway cast album.

The Bernstein conducted complete recording has the most music but is pretty ponderous, while it's not as inapropriate as his opera recording of West Side Story, the full on opera voices and slow tempi really suck the fun from the score.

I seem to be in the minority but I don't really think too highly of the concert version. It's fun enough, but I think somewhat miscast and I don't like the direction.

My fave production is one that seems to often get forgotten, though a few people have mentioned it here, and that's the 199 Royal National Theatre revival with Daniel Evans, directed and with a new libretto by John Caird. He uses the Hugh Wheeler 1970s evision as the basis, but I actually think no production works as well on stage as Caird's adaptation--and it also manages to get the spirit of Voltaire best (I've read Hellman's original libretto and, on paper anyway, it certainly didn't).

I saw the RNT Candide in London and it was one of the best things I've ever seen--it's a pity that the planned filming of it never happened. So I admit part of my love for that recording is due to actually seeing it. Third choice would be the near complete 1974 Prince revival (miles better than the later Prince production). But yeah for listening I'd go with the original cast album first, for which version I'd personally stage I'd do the John Caird revision (which I've noticed more companies seem to be starting to use now finally...)

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/13/11 at 4:00am

I love the LuPone/Chenoweth concert. I just put the audio on my ipod and that's the version I always listen to.

[HistoryBoy2]

Posted: 4/13/11 at 5:23am

Eric, I agree with you - the 1999 recording is my favourite as well.

[peerrjb]

Posted: 4/13/11 at 9:22am

I am constantly amazed at the love of Ms. Chenoweth's soprano range. I am glad she didn't have to endure Mr. Bernstein. Knowing his penchant for clear tones and non-shtick singing, I don't think he'd have even "ok'd" her for the part.