Les Miserables Complete Symphonic Recording

[GroversCornersGirl]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 8:53pm

I was wondering, does anyone know anything about The Complete Symphonic Recording of Les Mis? I'm having trouble finding a good description of it online. How does it differ from other Les Mis recordings? Thanks to anyone with info!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 8:54pm

It's the entire show. That's what they tell you.

What they don't tell you is it's the entire show as of 1988. If you saw it in 1997, 2001 or 2006 you'd be in for a shock if your only reference was the CSR.

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 8:58pm

what Lizzie said... also, The woman singing Eponine is Japanese, and thus, not a native English speaker, her accent can be a little irritatinf at times...

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 8:59pm

It has Anthony Warlow in it **Sigh**

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 9:00pm

It's also the most sterile, life-sucking, chemistry-lacking cast recording of Les Miz you'll find. Unfortunately, it's also the only way to legally hear Anthony Warlow as Enjolras.

But that's for another thread. Like all the 11978 other ones about the CSR that are easy to search for.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 9:04pm

It is the complete recording of the full english version of the show. The score is played by the London Symphony Orchestra. The major roles are played by Theater stars who played them from various interational companies of Les Mis. The Ensemble was from the L.A. production.
I am a big fan of the recording with a few minor complaints. One is the Japanese Eponine. In her defense, she did learn the show Phonetically and she does an O.K. job, but we were robbed of a possibly better performance from someone else.
The best part is hearing the complete role of Enjolras sung by the incredible anthony warlow. The same goes for Phillip Quast's JAvert. Both are truly amazing.

[Anddou]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 9:05pm

GroversCornersGirl: But if you want to hear the 2003 version as entire show, just look for 3CD "Original Prague Cast Live Recording" This is our non-replica version in Czech (I don't know, how much is current Broadway revival change, but I think it's almost the same in "cuts" thing.)

[Marianne]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 9:27pm

GroversCornersGirl: But if you want to hear the 2003 version as entire show, just look for 3CD "Original Prague Cast Live Recording" This is our non-replica version in Czech (I don't know, how much is current Broadway revival change, but I think it's almost the same in "cuts" thing.)

The cuts made to the Broadway production in 2001 were not used in the 2003 Prague production, so the 3CD live recording is the full, original version of the show in Czech.

The '01 cuts are now the "standard" version, or at least the version used in London and on the tours. But the Czech production was non-replica and didn't use them, and the Broadway revival uses a modified version of the standard cuts that restores some songs and snips bits and pieces off of others.

There is absolutely no reason to buy the CSR unless you're intent on hearing every single word of the original version of the show. Lizzie's comments on the lack of chemistry are blunt but entirely on the mark. If you want a Les Mis recording with a decent cast and enough of the show on it to be able to follow the plot, there's a 2-disc recording of the 10th anniversary concert that's vastly superior to the CSR.

[Taka]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 9:29pm

To me, Kaho Shimada is just trying to copy Frances Ruffelle. She isn't bad, just not as good as her.

Also, the chorus on the CSR isn't as excited as on the Broadway cast. However, if Ruffelle and Colm Wilkenson were on the recording, it would probably be my favorite one.

[philly03]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 10:15pm

The Eponine was Korean I thought?

And I really wouldn't suggest it too much. A lot of people love it, but I'm not that big of a fan. I did get some songs, the smaller songs that are cut from the others are a nice addition, but I don't think the whole thing is necessary. I did like "Look Down" and "One Day More." And I feel like it echoes or sounds funny at parts, haha I don't know.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 10:28pm

The Eponine was Korean I thought?

You thought wrong.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 11/24/07 at 10:52pm

As everyone else has pointed out this CD is probably only for really enthusiastic les mis fans. That being said Anthony Warlow is worth the price alone... Phillip Quast does a great job (but can be heard even better, I think, on the 10th anniversary recording), and this CD lacks Colm Wilkinson as Valjean...which is good to some and bad to others, considering all the other English recordings have him on it, it is nice to change it up...its too bad they couldn't have gotten someone better than Gary Morris though. The Japanese Eponine and the Cosette on it are lacking, the rest of the cast it pretty good... if it was a choice between the CSR and the 10th Anniversary Recording,I would go for the Latter!

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 1:11am

You can hear some songs from this recording on the original website.

http://lesmis.com/pages/sights_sounds/music.htm

I personally loved Kaho's voice.

[winston89]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 2:17am

Personally, I love this recording of Les Miserables. Way before the revival was announced and long after I forgotten the show when I saw it in London. I thought that this was a good recording to help fill in the gaps of the story that were hard to figure out just by listining to the OBC.

As for the cast, I like Garry Morris. I do have trouble listing to him. But, I think that is because prior to getting the CSR the only other Valjean I had heard a fair amount was Colm so it was and still is wierd. Not bad just wierd to not have Colm on a recording.

I do think that the main reason why there is very little noticable chemestry is because of the way it was done. It literally was recorded in different places around the world and then edited together. That is why it does feel like there is not any chemestry. They had two or more actors singing thier section of a song alone and edited it all together. I do think that if they recorded it with everyone together the chemestry would be noticable. Even in a studio recording a cast album you can still work off your acting partner. It is hard to do that when your partner is recoridng thier bit in a different country. I did love Kaho as Eponine. I think her voice shows off the sexyness to the character. I do love her a whole lot more then I do Francsis.

Overall, this was the show for a good while. I know that on broadway they had to change the running time because of how long the show took. I think the reason was that if a show ran over three hours the stage crew gets overtime. And it did run over three hourse most of the broadway run and then was cut.

There was an old Les Miserables thread on the Loindojn board and someone there menbtioned that the CSR is the same as the current London production.

[winston89]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 2:17am

Personally, I love this recording of Les Miserables. Way before the revival was announced and long after I forgotten the show when I saw it in London. I thought that this was a good recording to help fill in the gaps of the story that were hard to figure out just by listining to the OBC.

As for the cast, I like Garry Morris. I do have trouble listing to him. But, I think that is because prior to getting the CSR the only other Valjean I had heard a fair amount was Colm so it was and still is wierd. Not bad just wierd to not have Colm on a recording.

I do think that the main reason why there is very little noticable chemestry is because of the way it was done. It literally was recorded in different places around the world and then edited together. That is why it does feel like there is not any chemestry. They had two or more actors singing thier section of a song alone and edited it all together. I do think that if they recorded it with everyone together the chemestry would be noticable. Even in a studio recording a cast album you can still work off your acting partner. It is hard to do that when your partner is recoridng thier bit in a different country. I did love Kaho as Eponine. I think her voice shows off the sexyness to the character. I do love her a whole lot more then I do Francsis.

Overall, this was the show for a good while. I know that on broadway they had to change the running time because of how long the show took. I think the reason was that if a show ran over three hours the stage crew gets overtime. And it did run over three hourse most of the broadway run and then was cut.

There was an old Les Miserables thread on the Loindojn board and someone there menbtioned that the CSR is the same as the current London production.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 2:24am

There was an old Les Miserables thread on the Loindojn board and someone there menbtioned that the CSR is the same as the current London production.

Not possible. There's that godawful "certain as the eagle flies" line.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 4:01am

As someone who got this recording first and got to know the show through it, I love it.

As someone who's not ****ing retarted, it's not that great.

[Anddou]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 4:55am

Marianne: Thanks for great explaining! I know, there are some little cuts between first Prague 1992 "replica" production and Prague 2003 non-replica production, so I thought, it has same cuts as current West End and Broadway productions.
Updated On: 11/25/07 at 04:55 AM

[Mattt]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:54am

I love this recording, probably one of my favorites. Honestly, my favorite part of the cast is Kaho. Every time she sings I feel so much deep emotion in her voice, but its coming from such a "small" voice, if you get what I'm saying. To me, this factor contributes to shaping the character Eponine, just a small, harmless girl who for her age is full of so much emotion and rejection. I think Kaho does a great job presenting this through a recording. And her accent is not that noticeable IMO.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 10:49am

This is how I hear Kaho Shimada on the recording:

Tewk the layter lahk yew sayd
Ah mayt her father at the door
He said he'd give it tew COsette
Don't think Ah can staynd up anymore

[winston89]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 12:35pm

Mattbrain,

She sings better than Francsis. She at least gives out the sexyness vibe of Eponine. If I were going at favorite Eponine's based on recordings of the show I would say Lea Salonga then her in that order.

You have to give her credit that she is not an english speaker and that she was able to learn this entier show in a forigen language. And to top it all of she came out not sounding half bad.

[Taka]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 12:44pm

Since when is Eponine supposed to be sexy? It's my understanding that Eponine's ugly with a hint of inner beauty that shows. Frances Ruffelle is perfect for Eponine. Eponine needs an edge.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 1:04pm

It's spelled FRANCES!

GOD.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 1:08pm

I love this recording. Gary Morris sounds like he's imitating Colm Wilkinson all along, which is irritating, but otherwise great, especially the orchestra. Again, Warlow and Quast are highlights, as is the girl playing Eponine. Japanese or not, she's gorgeous. Michael Ball is Michael Ball. Next.

Contact Mother's Younger Brother. He's got 22 versions of Les Mis, he knows his stuff.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 4:17pm

Why is it with these complete symphonic recordings that there's some cast member imitating the original.

Kevin Gray and Joanna Ampil sound like they're imitating Jonathan Pryce and Lea Salonga (respectively)

Kaho Shimada and Gary Morris sound like they're imitating Frances Rufelle and Colm Wilkinson.

I look forward to the CSR of The Pirate Queen where we get a Jeff McCarthy and Stephanie J. Block clone.

That was a joke, by the way.