Customer Reviews

Les Miserables (Highlights from the 1987 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Composers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score for "Les Miserables" is simply brilliant and the spectacular Broadway cast, led by Colm Wilkinson, Randy Graff, Terrence Mann, and Frances Ruffelle, help bring this incredible music to life!

While I normally enjoy "highlight" cds, this one clocks in at a mere 55 minutes and could have easily included a couple of additional tunes (thus losing one star). Most notably missing: "At The End Of The Day", "Come To Me", "Red And Black", and "In My Life". The show's most memorable songs, however, are included.

Best tracks:

I Dreamed A Dream
Master Of The House
Stars
Do You Hear The People Sing
On My Own
A Little Fall Of Rain
Bring Him Home
Empty Chairs At Empty Tables

Great cast, great score ... even a good buy. But I would suggest the full double-disc score instead.

Highlights are never worth it. You will never get the little in-between songs which make a show complete, montages will be cut together badly instead of being full songs as they should be...so much is left out. This is a fantastic show and deserves to be heard in full.

Les Miserables is an outstanding production. With so many excellent versions out there (particularly the 10th Anniversary Concert recording), you'll be missing a lot if you get only the highlights. Get any of the full recordings, so you'll have a true feel of this great show.

All the best songs from the show are on this CD. Terrence Mann is the only Javert, and Colm Wilkinson is THE Valjean, their counterparts on the CSR are HORRIBLE!! I can't stand Phillip Quast as Javert, he is unbearble! Gary Morris is OK, but not as good as Colm Wilkinson.

I last heard/saw Les Miserables live in San Francisco with all my children in tow. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. There was not a dry eye in the theater. The experience inspired all four to become very active in Children and Community Theater. Now, as adults, they revel in the power of this magnificent work.

I expected this sound track to at least resurrect some of the feelings accompanying the more poignant moments of Hugo's story. Unfortunately, this rendition is flat and failed to ignite any recall of such a powerful moment in family life. Disappointing.

I have the black box full set and I love it, but I have a friend who just can't sit and listen to three CD's worth of music and was having a hard time getting into Les Miserables. SO I thought that this CD would give him the basics and maybe want to listen to the whole thing. I listened to it and thought that it sounded poorly made. It's almost like the music and the singers are not in sync in some of the songs. The voices and the music don't sound nearly as crisp in this version as it does in the full version. I wish I could get my money back for it and make my own mixed CD!!

Great CD! I love the music! This is a disc of "highlights" from Les Mis. It contains all of the big songs from the musical. The most popular ones. If you are only quasi-familiar with the musical, this is the CD I'd recommend. All the essential songs on one disc. (Including the rousing "Do You Hear the People Sing?", the beautiful "Little Fall of Rain", and my favorite, "One Day More", which is, like, the greatest medley song ever.)

I, unfortunately, have never seen the musical, but I love the music. The liner notes provide a synopsis of the story that helps put the songs in context (very useful for a novice).

The full 2-disc cast recording is also available (if you're a more serious fan), but for almost DOUBLE the price. For the casual fan, or the fan on a tight budget, this is the way to go. This is also ideal if you want to listen to Les Mis on your CD player from beginning to end without having to switch discs.

This CD features the cast from the original Broadway production (1987). A couple performers are the same as in the original London cast (1985), including Valjean (Colm Wilkinson). The London show was the original English-language production, adapted from an earlier French show. Also available is the Tenth Anniversary Concert recording, which includes a "dream cast" of performers from the London, Broadway and other productions.

If you're looking for a more complete album (and are not finicky about accents), I'd recommend the Original London Cast Recording. It is the original original of the musical as it is currently known, it's the full 2 discs, AND it's a bargain (priced in the same range as this highlights CD). The Tenth Anniversary Concert Recording is excellent, too, and comparably priced (for the full 2 discs). But it's a concert and has applause and stuff at the end of each number.

THE BOTTOM LINE:
This highlights CD is GREAT for the casual fan or someone who wants just a single disc. Anyone looking for ALL the songs from the musical would do better to pick up the London Cast or the Tenth Anniversary Concert, which are both 2-discs and reasonably priced. But any way you go, I highly recommend Les Misérables!

This is the BEST!! I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes this kind of music!

Enjoyable especially since i saw original cast on Broadway. My next purchase will be 25th anniversay edition which recently appeared on PBS.

i haven't seen this show yet, however i am absolutely obsessed with the soundtrack! susan boyle's rendition of i have a dream inspired me to purchase this cd and i was not disappointed. i like susan's version better, but this soundtrack is full of musical gems that will have you singing along in no time!