Les Miserables Complete Symphonic Recording
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Music CD Cover
Composer: Claude-Michel SchoenbergConductor: Martin Koch
Orchestra: Philharmonia Pit Orchestra
Performer: Michael Ball
Performer: Don Gallagher
Performer: Martin Smith
Performer: Bruce Winant
Performer: Deirdre Forrest
Performer: Ric Herbert
Performer: Philip Quast
Performer: William Solo
Performer: Gay Soper
Performer: Beverly Klein
Performer: Jackie Marks
Performer: Kay Cole
Performer: Glyn Kerslake
Performer: Laura Hamilton
Performer: Kaho Shimada
Performer: Anthony Warlow
Performer: Reece Holland
Edition: Music CD
Format: Cast Recording
CD Release Date: 2004-06-01
Music Label: Red Ink
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Prologue
- Valjean's Soliloquy (What Have I Done?)
- At the End of the Day
- I Dreamed a Dream
- Lovely Ladies
- Fantine's Arrest
- Runaway Cart
- Who Am I?/The Trial
- Fantine's Death
- Confrontation
- Castle on a Cloud
- Master of the House
- Bargain-The Waltz of Treachery
- Look Down
- Robbery-Javert's Intervention (Another Brawl)
- Stars
- Eponine's Errand
- ABC Cafe/Red and Black
- Do You Hear the People Sing?
- Rue Plumet-In My Life
- Heart Full of Love
- Attack on Rue Plumet
- One More Day
- At the Barricade (Upon These Stones)
- On My Own
- Building the Barricade
- Javert's Arrival
- Little People
- Little Fall of Rain
- Night of Anguish
- First Attack
- Drink With Me
- Bring Him Home
- Dawn of Anguish
- Second Attack (Death of Gavrobe)
- Final Battle
- Sewers - Dog Eats Dog
- Javert's Suicide
- Turning
- Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
- Every Day (Marius and Cosette)
- Valjean's Confession
- Wedding Chorale/Beggars at the Feast
- Epilogue (Finale)
Free Music Notes for Les Miserables Complete Symphonic Recording
Free Music Review: My favorite album in my entire CD collection!
Hit: 5 Stars
THE SHOW:
In my opinion, Les Misérables is the best musical ever written. It is surprisingly faithful to its source, the excellent epic novel by Victor Hugo. True, many plot episodes have been dropped and some characters have been combined, but the only major change is that the character of Eponine has been ennobled. The main storyline is about Jean Valjean, a man embittered by an overzealous prison system but redeemed by the kindness of a bishop. He vows to live the remainder of his life as an upright man, which leads him to be a successful businessman and mayor, the guardian of an orphan, and eventually a fighter in the doomed Paris revolt of 1832. However, there are a multitude of characters who interact with Valjean and each other. The plot is complex, and the show runs about 3 hours, longer than the typical Broadway musical. Large portions of the show are serious, but it has its humorous moments, and other parts (including the finale) are extremely uplifting.
THE RECORDING:
This three-CD set is an excellent recording of the show -- this is one of my most prized possessions!
First of all, the use of a full symphony orchestra lends an extra dramatic flair apparent from the first chord onward.
Secondly, I recommend this recording because of its completeness. To me, many of the most inspiring parts of the score are where Valjean shows his Christ-like compassion: championing Fantine, claiming Cosette, freeing Javert, and pleading for Marius. None of these are included on the Broadway recording, nor are the bittersweet musical sequences following several of the deaths in the second act.
Third of all, the recording cast is drawn from members of several English-speaking productions, plus one member from a non-English-speaking production. With only one exception, these singing actors do a fine job. I will comment only on the three most controversial casting choices:
People familiar with recordings featuring Colm Wilkinson as Valjean find difficulty adjusting to Gary Morris, who plays the role very differently than Wilkinson. He has a voice that's rougher, but I think it has more power and a wider range of emotion that more than makes up for the roughness: compare the sense of anguish he brings to such numbers as "What Have I Done?," "Who Am I?," and "Bring Him Home." I think that Valjean, a man who has endured so much pain and suffering in his life, would be this emotional, even if he has dedicated his life to God. However, I understand how other people prefer Wilkinson's more gentlemanly portrayal of Valjean.
Kaho Shimada, from the Japanese cast, did not speak English at the time of this recording. Her accent is no stranger than some popular country singers, and I doubt anyone who did not know she didn't speak English would realize her unfamiliarity with the language. Ms. Shimada has a "pop"-style voice, but it works well for the downtrodden Eponine.
I agree with other reviewers who dislike Tracy Shayne in the part of Cosette. The character is not one of the better parts written by either Hugo or Boublil, so I can forgive Ms. Shayne for her lack of acting the part to its fullest, but I cannot pardon her weak and somewhat fluttery voice. Surely someone better could have been found for this landmark recording. Because the role of Cosette is secondary, this flaw is not a deal-breaker.
The rest of the cast and chorus are superb -- great acting and strong voices. Special accolades for Philip Quast as Javert and Anthony Warlowe as Enjolras.
To summarize: if money is tight, skip a few meals to cover the extra cost of this recording. It's worth it!
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