Les Miserables in Concert / Riverdance - Live from New York City (1998)

Les Misérables in Concert
The 10th anniversary concert video of the international musical sensation Les Misérables might be the best thing to appease fans until a full-fledged movie comes along. Or it might be even better, with a dream cast of Colm Wilkinson (Valjean), Michael Ball (Marius), Alun Armstrong (Thenardier), Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Lea Salonga (Eponine), Michael Maguire (Enjolras), Ruthie Henshall (Fantine), and Philip Quast (Javert). Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score vividly captures the passion of Victor Hugo's epic tale of pre-revolutionary France, combining tear-jerking ballads ("I Dreamed a Dream," "Bring Him Home") and rousing anthems ("Do You Hear the People Sing"). The format of the 1995 concert is more like a dramatic cantata than a fully staged production; the singers stand at their microphone stands with an orchestra and chorus behind them, but they do wear costumes and participate in some movement. At certain points, the video switches to action from a stage production. The 147-minute video includes an encore in which 17 actors who have played Valjean around the world each sing a line of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" in his native language, a testament to the enduring power of this show to audiences everywhere. --David Horiuchi

Riverdance: Live from New York City
The Irish hard-shoe sensation Riverdance underwent its second incarnation with Live from New York City, a 1996 performance filmed at Radio City Music Hall. The dazzling choreography and energetic score remain, but Michael Flatley was replaced by less-flamboyant Colin Dunne, a superb technician who works well with Flatley's former co-lead, Jean Butler. About a half-hour longer than the 1995 original, Live from New York City expands upon the second act's theme of the Irish leaving their homeland for other parts of the world. In the most engaging new number, "Trading Taps," a trio of Irish dancers faces off against two urban American tappers. While much of this show will be familiar, it's different enough to be enjoyed on its own terms. It's also more stylishly shot, but that's also its biggest drawback--frenetic editing that allows only brief glimpses of the dancers and leaves the viewer dizzy. --David Horiuchi Amazon.com

Les Miserables at its best

If you have ever seen Les Miserables over the years, this DVD is a MUST.
It celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the show and was done on a stage.
The best parts are the actors reactions at the end of the show and the "Vanjeans from around the world" at the end. To see so many men singing the same song in so many languages was wonderful.
I would recomend this to everyone who loves musicals and especially if you love Les Miserables. October 19, 2002

Very Poor Sound

I have the VHS tapes of both of these concerts and the sound from the two DVD discs fell far short of coming anyway near the tape versions. It was a great disapointment. May 21, 2002

Bestest Best Best Musical

Definately my fav musical. The first time I watched this was when I was about 7 yrs old. I didn't understand it, so I put it aside. But the London cast awoke me. I was enchanted by the music. I couldn't stop crying when Fantine, Eponine, Enjolras and the war ppl died. When I got back home, I fetched the laser disk (mine is a laser disk, but the songs and everything is the same) and played it. I was then totally glued to the screen. Judy Kuhn's sharp soprano voice; Lea Salonga's crystal-clear voice; Colm Wilkinson's classical, Valjean-like voice; Philip Quast's low, really-Javert-like voice; Michael Ball and Michael Maguire and Adam Searles' clear, strong voice; Hannah Chick's sweet voice... I just couldn't believe how they chose the best of the bestest best singers. This really is worth seeing! This concert won them 2 standing ovatations! May 19, 2002

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