Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
(162 customer reviews) 224 of 229 people found the following review helpful
My thoughts,
June 27, 2000 William C. Clark (Watertown, MA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Les Miserables (1985 Original London 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...Read more
132 of 135 people found the following review helpful
The Best Version of a Spectacular Musical,
July 1, 2005 Mark O'Connor (Madison, CT United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Les Miserables Original London Cast (Audio CD)
I've been a huge fan of Les Misérables for many years now, and while I do not own every version, I do have both the Original London and Broadway Recordings, and I have heard selections from the Complete Symphonic Recording (CSR) and the Tenth Anniversary Recording (TAR). Before I break it down by character, let me just say that any recording of Les Misérables is worth your money, even the highlight recordings are enjoyable.
Orchestrations - London. The Broadway recording is fuller and clearer, however, it is also a lot more rushed. Now, for certain songs like "One Day More", that works, but at other times it can be a problem. The orchestrations on London seem more refined, they're slower and you have to opportunity to catch more and experience it better.
Jean Valjean - London. Colm Wilkinson is the definitive Valjean, and plays him on all of the recordings with the exception of the Complete Symphonic Recording. On Broadway he is rushed too much, he...Read more
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Good recording of a great musical,
February 7, 2004 jared (Fullerton, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Les Miserables (1985 Original London Cast) (Audio CD)
It's always good to have a copy of the original production of a show that's gone far (for historical purposes, at the very least). Performed live in front of an audience by the best actors ever to play the major roles, however, The Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert recoding is THE Les Miserables CD to get. Of course, if you're a big fan of this musical, you should get ALL versions available, including this one. If you've got limited funds, however, get your copies in this order: #1 TAC version, #2 Complete Symphonic Recording, #3 Original Broadway Cast recording, and #4 Original London Cast recording.
