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One example of why is a line from Candide that you've probably heard before. While visiting England, Candide observes an Admiral being shot on the quarterdeck of a ship. Asking why, he's told In this land we find it useful once in a while to shoot an Admiral, to encourage the others (pour l'encouragement des autres). This remarks on the English execution of Admiral John Byng for losing a battle.
Candide has had many forms on stage through the years, and one of the most famous on these shores is the one by Leonard Bernstein. I frequently write about how classical music is dieing, but he's a good argument against that. While his West Side Story is more famous, the music from the 1956 Candide is pure classical. I remember hearing this in the early 1970s, when it was the theme for the Dick Cavett Show.
Alas, I couldn't find any music from Molière, which is a shame. I guess that if you have to settle, you can do a lot worse than settling for Bernstein.
Personally I always thought it was a pretty sad statement on the classics that somebody like Cavett would use the music for his theme...
ReplyDeleteBernstein was probably the premier conducter in his day.
Old NFO, I think that Cavett saw himself as a later day intellectual Candide. That these wasn't chosen by accident.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, Bernstein (while a pain in the tail end) was an enormous talent.
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ReplyDeleteMeh... Cavett's ego was MUCH bigger than his talent... I'll just leave it at that.
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