The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recordings
The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recordings
#0The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recordings
Posted: 5/1/04 at 10:59am
I was just wondering...how much music is there included on the Broadway album that isn't included on the London one?
I got the London CD as a birthday present a few years ago, so I figured I woudn't need to buy the Broadway one. But I've been told that in "Look Down", the Broadway album includes the "Hey Eponine, what's up today?" exchange between 'Ponine and Marius. Is there anything else important on the broadway album that is included? Anything that's not on the London one, that is.
rock00
Understudy Joined: 4/1/04
#1re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recordings
Posted: 5/1/04 at 1:03pm
I haven't listened to either recording in a while, but I seem to remember that the London version includes a slightly different or expanded version of "In My Life". Like I said, I'm not sure. If you're a completist, then grab the Broadway one for Michael Maguire's beautifully sung Enjolras and Terry Mann's Javert (and try your best to ignore David Bryant's Marius). However, if you're just looking for more music regardless of cast, plunk down the change for the Complete Recording. Every note plus you get two Australian performers, Philip Quast (Javert) and Anthony Warlow (Enjolras), who are exceptionally talented.
Of course, if you have all this and were just specifically asking about Broadway vs. London then you can skip most of what I wrote. :)
Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around...
jo
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#2re: re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recordings
Posted: 5/1/04 at 7:49pm
If you want the complete libretto - try the COMPLETE SYMPHONIC RECORDING ( I think it is a 3-disc album) with the cast chosen from various world-wide performances, featuring the musical's entire music and lyrics. Some of the more notable performances --
Valjean - Gary Morris
Javert - Philip Quast ( also in the 10th Anniversary concert version)
Marius - Michael Ball ( in London OCR, this recording, and the 10th Anniversary concert)
Enjolras - Anthony Warlow
Fantine - Debra Byrne
lvpblues
Broadway Star Joined: 2/18/04
#3re: re: re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recordings
Posted: 5/1/04 at 8:23pm
There is a difference in the love montage at the the beginning of the second disc. The London recording has "I Saw Him Once" sung by Cosette (Rebecca Caine) just before picking up "In My Life." For Broadway "I Saw..." was cut and "Life" was expanded (as sung by Judy Kuhn, whom I prefer).
There is also a difference in "Stars" - the orchestration is different. Roger Allam's Javert on the London album gets a subtle finish on "Keeping watching in the night" while Terrence Mann on the Broadway album gets the money note finish. (Once again, I prefer the latter).
~Kevin
Updated On: 5/1/04 at 08:23 PM
Jamie Hat
Broadway Star Joined: 4/5/04
#4re: re: re: re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recordings
Posted: 5/2/04 at 1:50amI prefer the London cast.
NCGuy
Broadway Star Joined: 4/8/04
#5re: re: re: re: re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recor
Posted: 5/2/04 at 4:13am
Hi! I've never posted before, but here goes...
The London cast has a God-awful extended version of "Little People", but I think "One Day More" is much more stirring on the London version (the
B'way recording sounds a little slowed down - or is that just me?). Plus the London version has Patti ("dying for art in the part of a tart..."). Judy Kuhn does so much more with Cosette than the girl on the London version, but when it comes down to it, I still prefer the London version (the anniversary cast is a very close second, though - I think Philip Quast is amazing as Javert). I wasn't crazy about the Symphonic Recording...the music was amazing, but I though Gary Morris was really weak, and this show really lives or dies by it's Valjean.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#6re: re: re: re: re: re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recor
Posted: 5/2/04 at 8:41amThe London cast recording has the Magnificent Patti LuPone onboard. Enough said.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#7re: re: re: re: re: re: re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recor
Posted: 5/2/04 at 9:44amThe London recording is the one I currently own. It has a good cast, but from what I hear, it's not as complete as any of the other recordings. Patti LuPone and Michael Ball are both standouts, but I would like to hear Randy graff, Judy Kuhn, and the wonderful Terrance Mann.
#8re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recor
Posted: 5/2/04 at 12:18pm
It depends what you like. I have all four. The OLC is slightly shorter than the OBC. A lot of Eponine's stuff has been cut, and Cosette has a new song that (as far as I know) hasn't been in any other productions. The finale is much shorter as is the opening number with Valjean and Javert. Stars is really different, but my favortie part of the OLC? The prolgue is SO COOL! Its slightly different but is insanely awsome.
I would also recomend the CSR becasue it has everything in it. Its well worth your money. As is the 10th Anniversiry CD, ok I'll stop now...
Jamie Hat
Broadway Star Joined: 4/5/04
#9re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recor
Posted: 5/2/04 at 8:36pmIt's really the orchestrations of the London album that I like better. The US recording is too choppy in some parts for me.
jo
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#10re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recor
Posted: 5/2/04 at 9:16pm
My sentimental favourite is the London cast recording -
Great vocal performances from Colm Wilkinson, Patti Lupone, Frances Ruffelle, Zoe Hart ( young Cossette) and Michael Ball ( who is in 3 Les Mis recordings - London, Complete Symphonic Recording and 10th Anniversary Concert)!
#11re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recor
Posted: 5/14/04 at 11:28pm
The London cast recording is definately the most incomplete recordings of all the non-highlight ones. That is very unfortunate because I love the London cast. Especially Roger Allam's portrayal of Javert - my favourite and no one has beaten it yet....although I do like Phillip Quast and Michael McCarthy.
Tom
"Ne'er forsake me, here remain...Share with me my dark domain...Beautiful flower
of maidenkind...Here in the bower, where our love's enshrined..."
- Ken Hill's Phantom Of The Opera
http://www.kenhillsphantomoftheopera.co.uk/
Updated On: 5/14/04 at 11:28 PM
#12re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recor
Posted: 5/14/04 at 11:29pmThe above message was posted twice. Ignore this one (I had to edit it so I didn't look quite so stupid. lol) - sorry folks!
"Ne'er forsake me, here remain...Share with me my dark domain...Beautiful flower
of maidenkind...Here in the bower, where our love's enshrined..."
- Ken Hill's Phantom Of The Opera
http://www.kenhillsphantomoftheopera.co.uk/
Updated On: 5/14/04 at 11:29 PM
#13re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recor
Posted: 5/15/04 at 1:01am
I agree that the One Day More is most stirring on the OLC, and I won't lie I don't listen to my OBC that much although I do love Terrence Mann's Stars.
Actually, my opinion really isn't all that relevant since the version of it that I listen to the most is the TAC (10th Anniv) which really isn't very complete at all. But, everyone's right, if you want to listen to the most complete then the Complete Symphonic is the way to go (remembering that from the Broadway 10th Anniv on there were some shortenings and tweakings done to the show so that if you saw the Broadway production in March or 1997 or after there will be differences from the CSR) although personally I find Kaho's Eponine to be not the best one around.
And hang on, when did you win the discus?
