While, the NYT wasn’t particularly fond of Candide at the New York City Opera, I was wuite taken with it. Of course, the NYT’s critique was that it’s too “musicalish” (my word, not the NYT’s), which means it was right up my alley.

Of course, it was nothing like the Paris production that made want to see the opera/musical so badly. The version I saw was the same production that was featured in this Tony broadcast, but with Richard Kind in the role of Voltaire/Dr. Pangloss/Governor of Cartegena. I was pleasantly surprised by his signing ability, but the amplification mentioned in the NYT article made it hard for me to find him on stage sometimes.

By far the most pleasant part of the evening, and in this I agree with the NYT review, is hearing a full orchestra perform a beautiful score. Since I tend to see smaller scale productions like “The Adding Machine” when I’m not at even smaller productions at the Gallery Players, it’s like going from one of those massage chairs set up in a grocery store to a masseuse in a four star spa.

Oh, and in the row in front of me? Edward Albee. I could have sworn he was dead. Here’s Leonard Bernstein doing the overture from Candide. I know he’s dead.