Leonard Bernstein (Suite for Orchestra from Candide)

This excellent arrangement of selections from Bernstein's operetta Candide (1956) was assembled by Mr. Charlie Harmon, a personal assistant to the maestro during the 1980s. There are some minor adjustments to the orchestration, but all in all, the work stands as is. Here is a list of selections included:
You Were Dead, You Know
Paris Waltz (2:16)
Bon Voyage (4:10)
Drowning Music (5:58)
The Kings' Barcarolle (6:25)
Ballad of El Dorado (7:03)
I Am Easily Assimilated (9:58)
Entr'Acte (12:26)
The Best of All Possible Worlds (12:53)
Make Our Garden Grow (14:16)
Performed by the Minnesota Orchestra
Conducted by Eiji Oue
The recording is available through Reference Recordings: www.referencere...

[@sapereaude3748]

Bernstein was a wonderful composer. Given his hectic conducting schedule, we are fortunate to have as many of his compositions as we do. Still, I consider my 20th century collection somewhat less than ideal because there is just not enough of Bernstein the composer.
The Candide Overture is sublime. The Suite is bright and beautiful. Only Shostakovich and Prokofiev could match him for melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic invention.

[@tserkoslavjanskij]

I saw a production of Candide at the NYCity Opera years ago. Terrific. Although I prefer excerpts with singing, this is a fine suite, well-played by the Minnesotans.
Glad to learn that someone else likes Prokofiev as much as I. Do you know Yakov Kazman's recording of the complete piano sonatas, a Grand Prix du Disc collection that also includes the complete Scriabin sonatas? Check it out on Berkshire Records.

[@yoshikagekira176]

Amazing🥰

[@robertoortizespinoza795]

14:18 Very beautiful in the instrumental version. This piece is similar to "Luke and Leia" theme from "The Return of the Jedi", Star Wars, Episode VI, by John Williams.

[@williampaik8441]

2:00-3:00; 5:40

[@arbitrarygreay]

Pffffffffft those Firebird "tributes" in the final section, though