TubeNet

So my son's band played the overture to Candide at their spring concert and the HS chorus in the district where i teach performed two songs from the show at their spring concert. I have always loved the music but never have seen the show so i figured I would try to find a dvd of it. I looked on netflix and "voila!" there was a fairly new dvd of it from 2005. It featured the NY Phil and the Westminster Symphonic Choir. It was more of a staged concert than a full stage dramatic production. The orchestra, directed by Marin Alsop, and chorus were right on the stage and the "action" took place around them.

Stage direction was by Lonny Price. It was very irreverent and satirical, which after doing a little bit of research since watching it, i understand that is sort fo the point I guess. It just was very bizarre. Very funny but still very bizarre. Very "NY alternative lifestyle - ish." Has anyone seen a regular staged version of this show and then also seen this NY Phil version that you can give some comparison? Or is this how the show is usually performed?

A funny coincidence is that the lead soprano was Kristin Chenoweth, who i just saw in the newer dvd of the Music Man. Wow what a voice she has. Paul Groves played Candide who has an excellent voice as well. All of the performers were top notch obviously, as one would expect from a production such as this.

ken k

ken k wrote:Kristin Chenoweth, who i just saw in the newer dvd of the Music Man. Wow what a voice she has.

She was also in the equally irreverent TV show, "Pushing Daisies," where they let her sing a few times. I concur about her voice.

Sorry not to answer the rest of your post but I haven't seen either! Just played the music and read the (even more irreverent) book.

I highly recommend the book. Comedy in all its forms, from stand up too cartoons and especially satire, owe Voltaire a tremendous debt.

I saw the touring show in Chicago many years ago. They had platforms and walkways all over the auditorium where performers would pop up for mini scenes, which obviously the concert version could not duplicate, but it was good too. Not only did Kristin Chenowith do a definitive performance of "Glitter and be Gay", but Patti LuPone was an "in your face" old lady (with one buttock) and Paul Groves did a pretty good Candide, despite having to put up with those fakey lederhosen they gave him.

The original (Dec. 1956) show didn't last long on Broadway, although Bernstein's music drew raves. The show was revamped, but Lillian Hellman, who had conceived it as a play and did most of the book and some lyrics, refused to let her work be used again, so it had a new libretto and cut out (boo) half of the original songs. Nevertheless this version ran for two years and the show has been revived several times. The overture is a classic.