Remembering Candide

December 1, 1956 was the opening date for Leonard Bernstein's musical/operetta, "Candide." Book by Lillian Hellman, music by Bernstein – and it closed in two months.

Forget the many revised versions, especially the anti-Catholic additions in the Harold Prince version. Find some of the original cast recording and you'll find Bernstein at his best. Clever and lyrical by turns, and making vocal demands far beyond the reach of most "I Love A Musical" singers. Listen and be grateful for the contributions Bernstein made. (This year is the 90^th anniversary of his birth.) Yes, he was flawed personally – who isn't? – but he made classical music alive to at least two generations of Americans. A powerful presence, promoter, teacher, composer, conductor.

I remember watching the "Young People's Concert" that introduced Andre Watts to the world on the black-and-white TV in my grandmother's sitting room. In fact, I can still see segments of that broadcast in my mind.

Thanks, Lenny.