Actually they lowered it by a whole step. I think that it's ridiculous to get hung up on what key someone is singing in. We are all born with different ranges, and its dumb to try to make Daphne sing it in a certain key just because that was what was most comfortable for Patti Lupone in 1985.
This is one step up from people who say "oh yeah? well I can hit a Z#!!!"
I am curious if they will change it back for Lea. I don't see why not.
I think Lea's delivery was entirely appropriate for a TV variety show setting. I particularly love her lower voice - very rich and warm. Before I saw Daphne in the revival I always thought of this as a song of heartbreak not of anger. I think that Daphne took the hard-edged reading that suits her voice and Lea MAY take the heartbreak reading which suits her voice. You can like one or the other but the fact that they are very different doesn't have to mean one of them is wrong.
Les Miz began it's Fantine casting with mezzo sopranos (Randy Graff, Patti LuPone) and then switched to sopranos (Ruthie Henshall, Alice Ripley). I personally like mezzos singing the role because the notes are in a place on the scale that calls for a richer timbre. Most of the sopranos singing the role, can barely hit the low note (but the tiger's come at night...)
I'm glad a mezzo like Lea is stepping into the role because she will have no problems with the low notes. But, that's a personal choice. To those that don't like Lea, c'est la vie...they don't have to see the show, right?
Broadway Star Joined: 3/16/04
It's super weird to hear her singing it, since I am so used to hearing her sing Eponine's role...
Stand-by Joined: 10/10/06
i bet daphne acted it better than Lea does here. Lea by far has the a voice better suited of the show but she focuses too much on her voice here in the clip theres no grit to it...it almost doesnt match the song.
OH FOR GOD'S SAKES SHE'S NOT EVEN ON STAGE IT'S A FRICKIN' TALK SHOW BEFORE SHE'S EVEN REHEARSED THE DAMN ROLE
You beat me, Lizzie.
Shucks that Lea wasn't in costume and the stage in that variety show wasn't rotating. Or, was it???? I thought I saw the barricade behind her.
I am so excited to see Lea as fantine. this clip nakes me want to see her even more now!!!
Javert, are you ACTUALLY seeing Lea as Fantine?
If so... LET ME GO!
...please?
*edit*
Oooh look! I'm a "Featured Actor" now...
LizzieCurry you officially have a new fan!
"OH FOR GOD'S SAKES SHE'S NOT EVEN ON STAGE IT'S A FRICKIN' TALK SHOW BEFORE SHE'S EVEN REHEARSED THE DAMN ROLE"
^^ I couldn't have said it better myself.
Posters on this board really need to get a grip and put things into perspective before they post.
My gosh! It's a tv show performance, not a stage performance.
O MovieGuy, yes i will be seeing Lea as Fantine and Norm still as Javert. And you will be going with me to see it. I am working on the dates right now.
Swing Joined: 11/5/06
After seeing Lea perfoming this, it feels like "help is on the way." The time is coming when a raspy, screechy "voice" of Daphne (yuck, yuck, yuck) is to be replaced by a clear, clean, beautiful voice of Lea Salonga. Oh, and Lea looks really great -- seems like she is getting even more beautiful with age.
Now, if only she could bring a couple extra violinists with her to replace some "missing teeth" in Les Miz currently depleted orchestra.
Updated On: 2/8/07 at 12:52 AM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/15/05
Gosh, I just love her "As they turn your dream to shame"
Pure heaven!
Broadway Star Joined: 2/13/06
More thoughts on this, Lea can sing "grity" when she wants/needs to. Has anyone seen Lea, on her Broadway concert DVD, sing "As Long as He Needs Me?"
This comes down to personal taste. I perfer Fantine have to a basically pretty voice(even if it is not realistic) for IDAD, with a mix of saddness and a little anger in emotion. It is easier, for me, to get into the emotion of the song if the Fantine's voice is on the pretty side. That is why I like Ruthie Henshall better than Randy Graff, for example.
I think Lea is off to a good start If I could nitpick about anything, she could put a little more power in her voice near the end of the song.
Anything is better than Daphne.
And Lea is the best of the best, so YAY.
No one is ever good enough for you people.
that was good considering that it was a performance from a tv talk show...
why can't we just all wait and see lea in costume... sing, act and perform the role?
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