Les Misérables

1991 Paris Cast

Starring Robert Marien, others
Concept by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg
Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg
Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer
2 CDS, ? Tracks

Les Mis just sounds natural in French. After all, it's a French story. And this is a lovely CD…

The vocal talent is really good. I don't really know any of the names because I, um, didn't actually buy it. I downloaded it. Hee-hee. But it's really good anyway. Especially if you take French. I still don't understand most of it, but it's nice practice. And Les Mis, of course, is just GORGEOUS music. When you don't understand the words you really appreciate the music even more.

The Valjean on this CD has an awesome range and he sounds really, really great in "Comme un Homme" (Bring Him Home.) I THINK the actor's name is Robert Marien but I'm not positive on that. That's the only name I even kind of know. The Fantine on this album is really fantastic. I said in my review of the CSR that I don't pay attention to Fantines, and usually I don't. But since I don't understand the French very well, I was forced to focus on the voice, and this woman is really a great actress. She has a beautiful, expressive voice, and you can just FEEL what Fantine is going through in "J'avais Reve." (I Dreamed a Dream.) I love this Young Cosette. She sounds so cute, and she sings really well. The Marius is also excellent, especially in "Seul Devant Ces Tables Vides" (Empty Chairs at Empty Tables.) The guy playing Enjolras has a nice voice. The Javert is pretty good. Actually he's very good, only I thought he was a little too close to Robert Marien (or whoever) vocally. Sometimes it would have been hard to tell which one was singing if I didn't know already which character has which line. But that isn't his fault and he has a really nice voice. "Sous les Etoiles" (Stars) and "Le Suicide de Javert" (that one is obvious! LOL) are very, very nice. Thenardier gets major bonus points for (according to my mom) "sounding even more slimy in French."

All in all this recording is fabulous because of the incredible amount of emotion all the actors are able to convey with their voices. I think it is the recording with the most total talent for all roles combined. What I mean is: with my other recordings of Les Mis, I will love a certain performer in a role, but have problems with another role. There's no CD with my favorite performers in each role. For example, on the CSR I love Philip Quast and Anthony Warlow but have problems with Debbie Byrne and Tracy Shane. On the OBC I love Colm Wilkinson and Terrence Mann, but have problems with David Bryant. On the Paris CD, none of the actors are my absolute favorites for that role, but ALL OF THEM ARE REALLY GOOD. All of them are right up there on a favorites list. I think this recording is maybe the most well-acted of all and the vocal talent is still superb. If you like Les Mis and understand any French at all, get this recording. Is this hypocritical, telling people to buy CDs I myself haven't bought? Well, I'm not really telling you to buy it… I'm telling you it's really good. Whether you buy it, download it, or whatever is your own problem.