Les Misérables [Original London Cast Recording]

( 2 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Sarah Erlewine
Originally conceived as a simple recording production, Les Misérables evolved quickly into one of the premiere theater events of the 1980s. Theatrically on par with The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miz is drawn from the Victor Hugo novel of the same name. The story chronicles the life of Jean Valjean, a simple Frenchman who was arrested as a youth for stealing a loaf of bread. After serving five years for that crime, as well as an additional 14 for attempted escape, Valjean is released on parole. Upon changing his name and eluding his parole officer, Valjean becomes the surrogate father of a young girl and a mayor as the French Revolution sets in. As the war rages, he finds...
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More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Sarah Erlewine
Originally conceived as a simple recording production, Les Misérables evolved quickly into one of the premiere theater events of the 1980s. Theatrically on par with The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miz is drawn from the Victor Hugo novel of the same name. The story chronicles the life of Jean Valjean, a simple Frenchman who was arrested as a youth for stealing a loaf of bread. After serving five years for that crime, as well as an additional 14 for attempted escape, Valjean is released on parole. Upon changing his name and eluding his parole officer, Valjean becomes the surrogate father of a young girl and a mayor as the French Revolution sets in. As the war rages, he finds that he cannot change the man he is. Les Misérables is typical of theater in the '80s, with extravagant effects and large full-cast numbers. The beautiful score is full of emotion and humor, including such memorable and noteworthy songs as "Look Down," "Do You Hear the People Sing?," "Bring Him Home," "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," and the ubiquitous "On My Own." The original London cast recording is considered by many to be superior to various other releases of Les Miz, including the Broadway cast. Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle originate here the roles they played in the Broadway cast, joined by Patti LuPone and Michael Ball. An important addition to a collection for those who want a nearly complete version but who don't need the full symphonic version.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 12/11/2012
  • Label: First Night (Red)
  • UPC: 766930003329
  • Catalog Number: 33
  • Sales rank: 6,777

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
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Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 12, 2013

    This is likely the best recording of the Les Miserables soundtra

    This is likely the best recording of the Les Miserables soundtrack that there ever will be. Colm Wilkinson is a phenomenal Jean Valjean, Patti LuPone captures Fantine's fury, misery, and exhaustion flawlessly in "I Dreamed a Dream," and Roger Allam's Javert was stern and impassable in his tone alone.

    Admittedly, there are a few flaws, although they are all quite minor. Eponine is quite dreadful on this recording. She is a strong, tough character, but her singer has a high and whiny voice that makes her positively grating. I have yet to sit through an entire performance of "On My Own." "A Little Fall of Rain'" is tolerable only because I know Eponine is dying. The arrangement of "Javert's Suicide" is weaker here than it is in future recordings, and I strongly, strongly dislike that Eponine appears in the finale along with Fantine. It makes very little since, as she and Jean Valjean have only one brief interaction. I prefer what the 2012 movie did, with having only Fantine (and later the Bishop of Digne) escorting Valjean to heaven.

    Other than that, this is a phenomenal recording and one that is a necessity for any diehard Les Miserables fan. It is truly lovely.

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  • Posted January 13, 2013

    simply great

    simply great

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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