Bernstein - Candide
Hadley; Anderson; Ludwig; London Symphony Orchestra Chorus
London Symphony Orchestra / Bernstein
DG 474 4722
Release date June 2003
| McAlister Matheson Music | Contact us | Order form | Home page | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| About us | Discount Scheme | Special Offers | Reviews | Gramophone Editor's Choice | Top Ten | Newsletter | Recommended Recordings | Concerts in Edinburgh | ||||||||||
A brief, but very warm welcome for the return of Bernstein’s Candide to the catalogue. Recorded under trying circumstances – most of the cast were suffering from ‘flu during the sessions – the score emerges with no signs of reduced vigour or humour-through-gritted-teeth. June Anderson sails through Glitter and be gay with flying colours, without entirely removing the suspicion that this is not her natural territory. Hadley is charming and fresh-voiced as Candide. The inclusion of veteran singers (and long time Bernstein collaborators) Nicolai Gedda and - as the Lady with One Buttock - Christa Ludwig is a particular pleasure; Ludwig’s I am easily assimilated is the showstopper that it should be. The chorus gives Bernstein everything, and there’s no better Bernstein ensemble in Europe than the LSO. If you need cheering up, you could hardly do better than this!
Reviewed by Sandy Matheson