6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, but Slightly Flawed, April 17, 2002
This review is from: Les Miserables (Highlights from the Complete Symphonic International Cast Recording) (Audio CD)
"Les Miserables" is an excellent story. I read the book, saw the movie, and received this CD as a gift.
If you do not know the story of "Les Miz", I suggest you buy the full soundtrack; the storyline is very intricate, and the highlights soundtrack leaves out a lot of the story. For instance, Cosette's life with the Thenardiers goes unmentioned, so "Master of the House" may leave the listener thinking "What did that have to do with anything?"
Some of the cast members were not well chosen. Marius doesn't have a very strong voice, and Cosette got on my nerves after a while. Eponine takes getting used to, but she's pretty good. Javert , however, outshines the entire cast, including the star, Valjean.
One thing that dissapointed me is that a few great songs are not included on this disc. "A Little Fall of Rain" and "Castle on a Cloud" made there absence mourned, as they are two of the most beautiful songs I have heard. I recently sang "Castle" at a voice recital, so I was sad to find it missing from the song list. "Red and Black" and "A Heart Full of Love" were a dissapointment, and "Bring Him Home" didn't seem to have much of a tune. "Javert's Suicide" has the strangest tune I've ever heard, but the lyrics were so beautiful, I cried.
"Les Miserables" is a beautiful musical, nonetheless, and very powerful. The majority of the songs are wonderful, transporting you back into France in the mid-1800s, and dragging you into the complicated life of Jean Valjean, the twisted mind of Javert, and the sad, sad past of Fantine. "Les Miserables" moved me to tears, and I hope you will feel the same way.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Like it best, March 24, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Les Miserables (Highlights from the Complete Symphonic International Cast Recording) (Audio CD)
I own this recording, plus the full cast 10th anniversary CD, and this one is my favorite by far. Gary Morris as Valjean does a superb job and puts more emotion into his singing than Wilkinson. His range is amazing, and his passion for this role is obvious. I also enjoyed Debbie Byrne as Fantine, and thought she did a great job. Aside from the fact that this is a "highlights" cd, this is my favorite recording of Les Miserables.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic version!, August 7, 2002
This review is from: Les Miserables (Highlights from the Complete Symphonic International Cast Recording) (Audio CD)
If you look you'll be able to find what will seem like millions of versions of Les Miserables. "The Original London Cast", "The Original Broadway Cast", "The French Concept Album", and on and on and on. But if you're only planning on buying one, I'd recommend this one.
The cast is near flawless. Gary Morris is the ideal Jean Valjean, Debbie Byrne conveys sorrow and misery perfectly as hopeless Fantine, Anthony Warlow's powerful and commanding voice is superlative for Enjorlas and there are no words to describe exactly how amazing Philip Quast is as the ridged police officer Javert.
Slight problems include Kaho Shimada's (Eponine) Japanese accent and the exclusion of songs like "Castle on a Cloud" and "A Little Fall of Rain" as well as Cosette's solo "I saw him Once"
All in all the CD is to die for. Any true Les Mis fan couldn't ask for anything more.
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