LEONARD BERNSTEIN – OVERTURE FROM THE OPERETTA CANDIDE
LEONARD BERNSTEIN – OVERTURE FROM THE OPERETTA CANDIDE
The name Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) is first and foremost remembered by music lovers around the world as a brilliant conductor who left behind hundreds of exemplary audio and video recordings of many canonical works, and as the first American conductor to achieve worldwide recognition. Yet he was not only outstanding on the podium or at the piano, nor merely skillful in communicating about music and engaging audiences—he was also a masterful creative artist. Bernstein’s compositions brought the language of classical music closer to the general public, spanning a wide range of genres: symphonies, ballet music, film scores, stage works, choral music, opera, chamber music, and piano works. Among these, the operetta Candide, based on Voltaire’s 1759 novel of the same name, is particularly noteworthy.
In his 1961 lectures introducing classical music to young audiences, Bernstein explained that an overture is “a beginning, an opening piece, usually written to be played in musical theater before the curtain rises, to help you get ready, to prepare your minds, to set your hearts in tune with the music.” Thus, when the overture is heard before the story unfolds, listeners can already form an initial impression of what is to come. The Overture to Candide does precisely this: from its very first measures, a lively, bright, and witty atmosphere illuminates the listener’s imagination. In both Voltaire’s novel and Bernstein’s operetta, Candide is portrayed as an honest and innocent young man, embodying an enduring optimism despite the many hardships he must endure.
Mai Hạnh, May 2022
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