Voltaire's savage satire gets the operetta treatment — optimism never sounded this brutal.
Candide falls in love with the beautiful but materialistic Cunegonde. Her barron father doesn't approve of the affair so Candide wanders, meeting all the misfortunes along the way.
Score
Bernstein's score bounces between Broadway sparkle and acidic irony.
Acting
John Lankston juggling Voltaire, Pangloss, and narrator with smug glee.
Direction
Kirk Browning keeps the stage chaos tight for the small screen.
Director
Kirk Browning
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Bernstein worked on Candide for decades, rewriting it after every flop revival — the 1986 version here is his 'final' revision, though he kept tinkering until his death.
The famous overture almost didn't happen — it was a last-minute addition for a 1956 TV broadcast, and now it's Bernstein's most-played orchestral work.
US
