"O.K. Your' comment is ridiculous. First of all, you definately are not a singer or in musical theatre at all. Secondly, Val Jean sings to a high B, which means it is a tenor role, and the note is meant to be sung FULL VOICE, not falsetto, which also means it's a tenor part. So there you have it . . .and before you dismiss my comments, I was in the show, I am a performer, I have been on broadway, and not in the chorus, and you still have no idea what the hell you are talking about."
Ok so where do you want me to begin with that one??!?!!!!!!
Get off your high horse mate. Valjean does indeed sing that high b (Court Room isnt it?) but you are caught up in the world of definitions. I may not work in musical theatre but plenty of friends do and I have had the benefit of working with some top vocal coachs in the UK. Its all down to healthy technique. Seeing as you have been on Broadway I dont have to tell you that!
There have been plenty of "tenors" cast in this role over the years. However what I was trying to point out is that "high baritones" are just as desirable in the role and have frequently been cast in the WE or on tour. A friend of mines works in casting and others have had the same thing hammered into them by places like the Royal Academy of Music. Now feel free to disagree, it seemed to work for you all back in 1776
Oh and about the falsetto bit.... I cant even count the number of times I have seen "tenor" Valjeans use falsetto for those parts. Performers like Jeff Leyton and Simon Bowman spring to mind. Listen to performers like John Owen Jones and Stig Rossen and then tell me if you think they have a legit tenor vocal quality... I dont think so. Oh and I hate to bring him up but Michael Ball is another one- a high baritone who can sing Valjean and did a similar range in Aspects of Love.
