Les Miserables Complete Symphonic Recording [Cast Recording]

Claude-Michel Schoenberg (Composer), Martin Koch (Conductor), Philharmonia Pit Orchestra (Orchestra), Various Artists (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 (Performer), Gary Beach (Performer), Jordan Bennet (Performer), Tim Bowman (Performer), Stephen Breithaupt (Performer), Debbie Byrne (Performer), Ken Caswell (Performer), Kenny D'Aquila (Performer), Ian Dring (Performer), Marissa Dunlop (Performer), Susie Fenwick (Performer), Julian Forsyth (Performer), Peter Gantenbein (Performer), Graham Gill (Performer), Barry James (Performer), James Francis Johnson (Performer), Jill Martin (Performer), Ross McCall (Performer), Gary Morris (Performer), Aline Mowat (Performer), Becky Norman (Performer), Wendy Pollock (Performer), Raymond Saar (Performer), Tracy Shayne (Performer), Paula Simpson (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Various Artists, Michael Ball, Don Gallagher, Martin Smith, Bruce Winant, et al.
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Pit Orchestra
• Conductor: Martin Koch
• Composer: Claude-Michel Schoenberg
• Audio CD (June 1, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Red Ink
• ASIN: B0002E5L62
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (254 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,079 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Prologue

2. Valjean's Soliloquy (What Have I Done?)

3. At the End of the Day

4. I Dreamed a Dream

5. Lovely Ladies

6. Fantine's Arrest

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Eponine's Errand

2. ABC Cafe/Red and Black

3. Do You Hear the People Sing?

4. Rue Plumet-In My Life

5. Heart Full of Love

6. Attack on Rue Plumet

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

2. Every Day (Marius and Cosette)

3. Valjean's Confession

4. Wedding Chorale/Beggars at the Feast

5. Epilogue (Finale)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 91 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Recording of 'Les Miserables' is Divine! April 24, 2000

By RJStuart

Format:Audio CD

After viewing 'Les Miserables' in Sydney two years ago, Ibought the Original London Cast Recording of the musical. However, Inoticed that some things were missing. Consequently, I bought this album to fill in the gaps. I now have three recordings of 'Les Miserables'; the Original Broadway Cast including these other two, and the 10th Anniversary Concert VHS Tape. With a 65-strong orchestra this recording definately has the best sound quality out of all the other recordings I have heard. After listening to Colm Wilkinson perform Jean Valjean, on the OLC, incessantly for a year, it took some time getting used to Gary Morris' portrayal of the saintly criminal. However, after listening to Morris a few times he starts to grow on you. Although I prefer Colm, Morris still depicts Valjean extremely well. Listeners notice the great change in the character of Valjean from the beginning of the musical to the end. Notice the contrasts in Valjean's character in the songs; "What Have I Done?": Valjean: "Take an eye for an eye. Turn your heart into stone. This is all I have lived for. This is all I have known." and "Bring Him Home": Valjean: "If I die, Let me die! Let him live." The character of Valjean is extremely developed and Morris portrays him very well with deep emotion and passion, which serves to involve the listeners into the action of the musical. Javert is my all-time favourite character in literature, film, and music. The cold-hearted Police Inspector is brilliantly portrayed by Philip Quast in this album. Quast is the best Javert I have heard; his voice is so clear, deep and powerful, and it is a pleasure listening to him play the antagonist in 'Les Miserables'....The main contrast can be noticed in the songs "Stars" and "Javert's Suicide". "Stars" is lyrically and musically brilliant, and vividly illustrates Javert's personality and beliefs; the law is above all else....Debbie Byrne's portrayal of the tragic Fantine is similar to Patti Lupone's in the OLC. They have very similar voices because they sing from the back of their throats. Listeners are coerced into feeling pity for Fantine...Debbie portrays Fantine with anger, hopelessness, and despair, which can be heard in the song "I Dreamed A Dream." I have been a fan of Anthony Warlow for a very long time and every song I have heard him sing is infallable. His portrayal of Enjorolas is brilliant (the best I've heard), his rich voice and passionate expression really make the Apollonian Revolutionary Leader realistic and powerful. Warlow is intensely emotional, and listeners are able hear the sheer perfection of his voice when his character is about to die, in the "The Final Battle"; Enjorolas: "Let others rise To take our place Until the earth is free!" Michael Ball has a fantastic voice. He is not overly powerful and he is not soft and weak. His portrayal of Marius is magnificent, as always....One of the strongest characters in 'Les Miserables' is Eponine. Although I believe that Frances Ruffelle and Lea Salonga portray her better, Kaho Shimada does it well here, even if her accent does take some getting used to. Eponine's love for Marius is unrequited, which compels listeners to sympathise with her....'Les Miserables' is, in my opinion, only equalled by Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Phantom of the Opera' as the greatest musical ever. The dark themes, emotional energy, and intensity in which Victor Hugo involved in his novel, have served Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg (as well as Herbert Kretzmer), in their creation of a musical and lyrical triumph. This triumph can be observed in the climactic song of 'Les Miserables'; "One Day More" (My favourite song ever). There is something about this song which inspires, amazes, involves and entertains the listeners, which can be said of all of 'Les Miserables'. To own any CD of 'Les Miserables' is great, but to own the 'Complete Symphonic Recording' is divine! END

71 of 77 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The GREATEST MUSICAL of ALL TIME! August 2, 2007

By Gregory E. Foster VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

I first became acquainted with this wonderful work before it was known of here in the USA through a copy I had ordered from England. Then, with the US Broadway production, the OBC release was added to my collection. Then, this one, and later, the dream cast version, and then the 10th anniversary edition. So, I have listened to a "few" versions of the work. I love them all. I love this one, perhaps, the most. I am heavily into opera and classical music, so I guess it is sort of natural that I would be drawn to the presentation of this great work with a complete orchestra behind it.

I feel that it is necessary, however, to own three versions of this wonderful musical play. First, the Original, London production. Second, the Original Broadway Edition, and lastly, This, the Symphonic Edition. They all three have their place, and, indeed, are all different, each begging for space on your shelves for very good reason.

If you are a purist, and can only have one, then, it must be the Original London Cast...period, end of discussion. But, if you are like me, and require different interpretations, etc., you will simply fall in love with all three of these recommended recordings.

When I state above that this is the greatest musical piece of theater ever, I certainly do, truly, believe this. Of all the dozens of plays I have seen on Broadway, of the hundreds I have listened to on LP and disc, watched on tape, LaserDics, and DVD, etc., NOTHING has EVER reached the Stratospheric Heights of this work. The only possible exception would be "Man of LaMancha" with Alan Jones, waaaay back, when I was a young man. It was my first Broadway Show, and this may be why I hold it so highly in my heart. (Everything gets held up to it for comparison, and most do not make the cut!)

Again, I urge you to add this recording to your collection...you will love it dearly. ~operabruin

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite album in my entire CD collection! October 24, 2008

By burghtenor

Format:Audio CD

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!