Candide, as a musical/opera, has a highly complex history, having gone through multiple alterations since it first premiered in 1956 with a book by Lillian Hellman. In the 1974 version, the book was rewritten by Hugh Wheeler (as adapted from Voltaire and at the insistence of director Hal Prince) with added humor, ultimately saving it from being a complete disaster by some accounts. In any case, the music is by
Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Richard Wilbur -- although additional lyrics are contributed by John Latouche, Dorothy Parker, Lillian Hellman,
Bernstein,
Stephen Sondheim, and John Wells. This 1989 cast recording was the last time that
Bernstein conducted his famous work. The production is beautiful, and this is one of the quintessential recordings of this musical. ~ Sarah Erlewine