Les Miserables - The Dream Cast in Concert (1998)

Les Miserables

I've always wanted to see this musical live ever since I read the book, but this video was just as good and cheaper. The last portion when Valjean's character played by all the international cast sing together was absolutely breathtaking. February 8, 2008

What can I say ... It's Les Mis!

Les Miserables is, in a word, amazingspectacular. Really. It's an incredible piece of art, and for the most part this cast is excellent. Blow by blow:

COLM WILKINSON (Jean Valjean) -- The original JVJ, however perhaps the weak link in this cast. He's never been my favorite Valjean, and the strength of his voice declined significantly between 1985-87 and 1995. ... What's with the ear-piercing shrieks? ("2-4-6-0-oonnnnnnnnnnnne-NUH!")

PHILIP QUAST (Javert) -- What can you say about Philip Quast. I think he's by far the most convincing singer and performer in this cast, and he's far and away the best Javert ever to take the stage. Such a unique and wonderful presence.

ALUN ARMSTRONG/JENNY GALLOWAY (M. and Mme. Thenardier) -- Great chemistry. Galloway was the stronger performer of the two, although Armstrong had his moments.

RUTHIE HENSHALL (Fantine) -- Wonderful actress, great alto voice. Not much else to say, except she's very believable.

MICHAEL BALL (Marius) -- What a voice on this guy, eh? He IS Marius, and wonderful in every way.

LEA SALONGA (Eponine) -- I'm very much a fan of Lea; not so much a fan of her portrayal of Eponine. She has a wonderful voice, but her Eponine was too far removed from Hugo's Eponine for my tastes. However, that's more a comment on the script than the performer.

JUDY KUHN (Cosette) -- "In My Life" = amazing. At the end of the first "A Heart Full of Love," she squeaked the high A a little bit, but the soprano C at the end of the reprise was very strong. "Every Day/AHFOL (reprise)" is one of my favorite songs in the show, and she and Michael Ball were really wonderful in that.

MICHAEL MAGUIRE (Enjolras) -- Hehe. Powerful much. Yes, some of the high notes ("they will come when we call" and then "I will THANK YOU MONSIEUR when our battle is won") weren't quite there. But he really embodies the character of Enjolras admirably and is one of my favorites in this cast.

ADAM SEARLES and HANNAH CHICK (Gavroche and Little Cosette) -- Cute kids. Adam looked and sounded maybe a bit old for the part, but his street-tough Cockney Gavroche was spirited. Hannah pulled off "Castle on a Cloud" nicely, and, for a note on the casting: you can see her growing up to look very much like Judy Kuhn.


5 stars, just for being Les Mis. =) January 26, 2008

The Best Recording of Les Mis...

Being a Broadway fan and having seen the show several times, including its debut in DC and can state that this compilation is superb. Many recordings from Les Mis, have been published but the Dream Cast from Les Miserables is unique.

What make the Dream Cast unique is the many performances from foreign productions that have been included in this recording. You will enjoy the already familiar songs in several languages.

Performances from the Lovely Ladies to the Thenadiers are great. Fantine and Valgean's death are presented in a sublime manner.

A great & unexpected surprise happens at the end when performers from current shows in many countries participate of the grand finale. I can not think of a better way to end this amazing production.

Video and audio are superb and this DVD is a must have for all of Broadway fans. By all means, get a copy...
December 23, 2007

Astounding, captivating, world-halting musical story of redemption

My husband and I watched this concert together for the first time last year (it was actually my third time and his very first). And we both fell in love with it (me again and my husband for the first time). The music is astounding, the cast was amazing, and we've been held spellbound by the songs for the last 365 days... I love how they thread the same melodies throughout the whole story -- but changing the words as the story progresses, people grow, develop, encounter different devastations... -- it provided continuity and tied everything together with a kind of explosive power that a good reader like me loves.

Although the story is called "the miserables" --and how apropos for all the heartache and misery that is depicted of the characters (more poignant because such misery is not fictitious), what was most striking to me is the story of redemption. With the opening lines, the question that hangs in the air -- is it possible for a person to really change from 'a thief' to 'an honest man', from bad to good? With one incredible act of mercy and gift of grace, Jean Valjean embodies the answer to this question. Meanwhile, Inspector Javert, who is dubious of such a possibility and intent on putting Valjean back in chains, is driven by a lifelong obsession to see justice done -- so much so that he is blind to the possibility that the answer could be in the affirmative. He is blind -- until mercy is shown to him. In a world full of hate where individuals live with the motto of "an eye for an eye" and survival of the fittest, to be given an evil turn for an evil turn is what's expected. It's when we are shown mercy that suddenly the music halts and the world stops turning and we know that our miserable selfish selves must die and a new life be born.

Redemption. I'm a sucker for redemption stories. And... the thing is, that is only one part of this whole story. You'll have to watch it yourself to see why in the world it's so captivating. And if all this is not convincing enough, on October 8, 2006, Les Miserables celebrated its 21st Birthday and officially became the longest running musical in the world -- IN THE WORLD!! That's quite a lot to boast of. Les Mis took the whole world by storm. Including us.

I recommend this to everyone -- if you can get your hands on it. November 26, 2007

Another muscial DVD

If you like the music from Les Miserables then this is for you. Some lovely singing and music. Very enjoyable. September 17, 2007

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