"Candide" is an operetta by Leonard Bernstein with a libretto by Lillian Hellman, based on Voltaire's novel. It premiered on Broadway on December 1, 1956 at the Martin Beck Theatre. The original production was directed by Tyrone Guthrie.
The original cast included Robert Rounseville as Candide, Barbara Cook as Cunegonde, and Max Adrian as Dr. Pangloss. The show had mixed reviews and only 73 performances, but the score was acclaimed. Bernstein personally conducted the orchestra at the premiere.
The original album was recorded by Columbia Masterworks in 1956, with Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic. The recording included most of the score. Over time, "Candide" was revised and revived, becoming a classic of the repertoire.