I think this tempo is just right. Each conductor is allowed his/her own interpretation. I'm glad he took the tempo at a speed he felt comfortable with. Well played, precise, balanced and just an all round excellent preformance.
Bravo! Maestro Orozco-Estrada, Brava! Frankfurt Radio Symphony!!! This is my favorite short work of Maestro Bernstein Played to perfection by this wonderful orchestra!!! Bravo! Maestro Orozco-Estrada, Brava! Frankfurter Radiosinfonie !!! Dies ist mein Lieblingskurzwerk von Maestro Bernstein Perfekt gespielt von diesem wunderbaren Orchester !!!
The orchestra does a fine job, but this tempo is almost painfully slow, averaging around 15 bpm slower than Bernstein's specified tempo. That's enough to add about a minute to the piece, which considerably changes its character. Candide is a non-stop funny show from tip to tail, and the tempo of the overture sets the tone. This is just north of ponderous. No complaints about how the orchestra handled the challenge--it's quite hard to keep up the energy at this tempo, and they do an admirable job. But it's not a characteristic tempo.
Ein herrliches Stück von Bernstein, Alles harmoniert perfekt. 👍👍 Und natürlich hervorragend gespielt!! Schade das dieser Dirigent nun Frankfurt verlässt. 👏👏👏
Composer Bernstein was always competing for time with Conductor Bernstein, Pianist Bernstein, and above all Celebrity Bernstein. On top of that, Classical Composer Bernstein competed with Broadway Bernstein. IMO he tried to do everything and be everything, to the detriment of all.
This is great orchestral playing - lots of nuance and precision and color. Conductor gets fantastic results. But coming in at four minutes, 45 seconds, it's just too slow. Two of Lenny's own performances here on youtube come in at 20 seconds faster (LSO, 1989) and a whopping 40 seconds faster (NYPhil, 1964). The latter really takes your breath away. This is a virtuosic piece of music and it's supposed to sound like one. Minus the tempo, yes, great performance.
@@TheStockwell ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E0jDz3mYF7Y.html Here is another recording of the Candide - a live broadcast from Carnegie Hall in 1960. Like the 1964 Sony Classical recording, the piece clocks in at about four minutes and five seconds. I consider these the authoritative versions - two nearly identical recordings conducted by the composer and made closest to when the music was written.
@TheStockwell Well, everything IS up to the conductor. Hence, the ensemble followed him. That doesn't make it the characteristic tempo, nor does it make it a good tempo. It objectively isn't. The score is marked half note equals 152 bpm. This averages around 136-137 bpm. The slower tempo drains the humor and air out of the piece.
@andrewbraid815 I concur. This tempo is around 15 bpm slower than the score calls for, and thank you for referencing the '60s era NY Phil performances. I've heard people take it a few beats slower (which, to me, still robs it of its humor and brightness), but 15 bpm off is just too much. I congratulate the players for holding it together, and giving it a committed performance, but they could have torn it up at the proper tempo for a potentially brilliant performance.
iT'S SLOW, TOO SLOW, please listen Leonard Bernstein, the difference of timing is BIG, than the TACTUS by Maestro Estrada is not adequate, is only SLOW.........................