Bernstein's final Candide: 35 years of chaos, one legendary night.
This is the historic concert performance of the final operatic version of Bernstein's Candide. It was recorded on December 13, 1989 at the Barbican Centre, with Leonard Bernstein conducting the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with a stellar cast of operatic stars gracing the solo parts. The programme lasts a full 2hrs 27 mins. It marks the end of a long and tortured journey for the musical/operetta that spent much of its first 35 years as an orphan in the musical wilderness.
Direction
Humphrey Burton captures Bernstein's physical, almost desperate conducting.
Acting
June Anderson's Cunegonde: coloratura madness with a knife's edge.
Score
'Make Our Garden Grow' will destroy you. No notes.
Director
Humphrey Burton
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Bernstein had been rewriting Candide since 1956; this 1989 'final' version still wasn't final—he died months later.
Watch Bernstein's face during the overture: he knows this is his last time with this score, and it shows.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
