Les Miserables (1987 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Alain Boublil (Artist), Claude-Michel Schonberg (Artist), Frances Rufelle (Artist), Colm Wilkinson (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Decca U.S.
• ASIN: B000000OQI
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (222 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,531 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #7 in Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > France
  • #9 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > Contemporary Musicals
  • #64 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > General

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Overture/Work Song

2. Valjean Arrested/Valjean Forgiven

3. What Have I Done?

4. At the End of the Day

5. I Dreamed a Dream

6. Lovely Ladies

7. Who Am I?

8. Come to Me (Fantine's Death)

9. Confrontation

10. Castle on a Cloud

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. In My Life

2. A Heart Full of Love

3. Plumet Attack

4. One Day More!

5. Upon These Stones (Building the Barricade)

6. On My Own

7. Upon These Stones (At the Barricade)

8. Javert at the Barricade/Little People

9. The First Attack

10. A Little Fall of Rain

See all 31 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After Les Misérables became a huge hit in London, it moved to Broadway, bringing along two stars from the London production, Colm Wilkinson as the heroic Valjean and Frances Ruffelle as the despondent Eponine. Filling out this 1987 cast are Randy Graff (Fantine), Terrence Mann (Javert), David Bryant (Marius), Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Michael Maguire (Enjolras), and Leo Burmester and Jennifer Butt (the Thénardiers). Whether you prefer the London cast or this one just might depend on which one you heard first, though minor revisions to the show since its London debut make the Broadway version more familiar to current audiences. In fact, the 10th anniversary concert might have the best overall cast of the lot, while the three-disc symphonic recording is a must for completists.

Regardless of cast, Les Misérables has become a sensation. Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score is filled with beautiful ballads ("Bring Him Home," "I Dreamed a Dream") and rousing anthems ("One Day More," "Do You Hear the People Sing?"), and Victor Hugo's classic novel of a student uprising in early-19th-century France provides a compelling story line that continues to thrill audiences all over the world. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

282 of 292 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My thoughts, June 27, 2000

By 

William C. Clark (Watertown, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Les Miserables (1987 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

The Original London Cast and Original Broadway Cast recordings were the first English recordings of Les Misérables. Each has it's strengths and weaknesses. For instance:

The Conducting) LONDON is best. The conducting is slower in the London version. Some listeners think that this sacrifices dramatic tension, but the slower speed brings out a hundred details that you never hear on other recordings.

Sound Quality) BROADWAY is best. The London recording has very good sound, but Broadway's sound is more sharp and focused.

Jean Valjean) TIE. Colm Wilkinson sings the role of Valjean on both recordings. His voice is a bit unsteady, but his acting is perfect. And he is IMMEASURABLY better on these two recordings than he was at the Tenth Anniversary Concert.

Javert) LONDON. Roger Allam has a strong, clear voice, and uses it well in Javert's solos. Terrance Mann has more trouble with his solos, but manages to pull through in the rest of the Broadway recording. Both of them are decent actors, but neither of them can touch Philip Quast, who will always be THE Javert.

Fantine) LONDON. Patti LuPone is one of the few Fantine's who sings the role instead of wailing it. And she does more than just sing it. If LuPone's "I Dreamed a Dream" doesn't bring you close to tears, you have a stone heart. Randy Graff on the Broadway recording leaves a lot to be desired, but isn't nearly as bad as Ruthie Henshall in the Tenth Anniversary Concert.

Marius) LONDON! Michael Ball was the first and the definitive Marius. His singing and acting are great, and he makes a potentially sentimental character believable and even likeable. Nowhere does David Bryant on the Broadway recording come close to matching him. Bryant isn't as bad as some people say, but he does little more than sing the notes.

Enjolras) BROADWAY! David Burt on the London recording does a very good job. His voice is light but pleasant, and he is able to sound sufficiently heroic. But Michael Maguire on the Broadway recording is in a different league all together. His entrance in "One Day More" is spine-tingling, as is his opening in "Do You Hear the People Sing?" Neither of these singers come even close to matching Anthony Warlow's Enjolras on the Complete Symphonic Recording, though.

Thenardier) LONDON. There is nothing wrong with Leo Burmester on the Broadway recording. Alun Armstrong, however, does better at conveying the sinister aspect of the rogue innkeeper. And his excellent Cockney accent doesn't hurt either.

Eponine) BROADWAY. Frances Ruffelle sings Eponine on both recordings. Her voice is more refined on the London recording, but she sounds more urgent and exciting on the Broadway. She is excellent on both of them, though.

Cosette) LONDON. There isn't much difference between the way London's Rebecca Caine and Broadway's Judy Kuhn sing Cosette. In fact, Judy Kuhn might be a hair better. What set's the London version in front of the Broadway version is that Cosette gets her own song on the London. Her solo, "I saw him once", makes Cosette's character just a little less shallow.

Well, there you have it. The Original Broadway Cast is in my opinion not quite as good as the London Cast, but both recordings are very good. Ultimately, you will have to chose for yourself which (if either) to get.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for amazon customers!, February 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Les Miserables (1987 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

Les Miserables is one of the greatest musicals of all time, so this is a must-have for theater lovers.

The actors in this cast are all good (Colm Wilkinson, Terrence Mann, etc.), though it is understandable that comparisons are inevitable, especially since different actors have played the roles in different recordings. I, too, have preferences. For the role of Marius, I prefer Michael Ball -- to me, he is 'it'. For the role of Cosette, it's Judy Kuhn. And for the controversial role of Eponine, I prefer Lea Salonga. Why? For the simple reason that based on what all the Eponine players have shown, not only is she the best singer (miles apart from Frances and Kaho), she's also the best actress. (Not a surprise. Prior to doing the anniversary concert recording, Lea Had played the role on Broadway and on the West End to rave critical reviews.) Lea's Eponine is more intense, has more depth, and is more felt. She's also more effective in getting the audience to empathize with her. Frances does a great job, of course, and has been recognized for it -- good for her! -- but Lea gives the role more than just character; she gives it PRESENCE. In the past, people took the role of Eponine for granted -- everything was all about Valjean and Javert, sometimes extending to Marius and Cossette. With Lea joining the cast, people have actually started noticing Eponine. Lea Salonga has given the character the recognition it deserves.

Orchestration-wise, I prefer this version over the London recording. The faster beat makes the movements more exciting.

Overall, this is an excellent recording and one that you should definitely get. But don't forget the anniversary concert set (it has the best cast -- the "dream cast" indeed) and the complete symphonic version (which has all the music and songs) --they're the most important Les Miserables recordings.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, January 22, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Les Miserables (1987 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

If you can get only one copy, however, the 10th Anniversary Concert version is the one you should get. With the best cast and a very lively recording (plus a special number with Valjeans from different countries singing in their respective languages), the TAC version remains as the most memorable recording of this wonderful musical.