Les Miserables (Paris Theatre Mogador 1991) Cast Recording

That one is WONDERFUL. My favorite Les Miz cast recording (and I have way too many!). There was an old PBOL interview from the late '90s with Schönberg who said they were the most volatile cast backstage (fighting and drama), but had the most onstage chemistry he'd ever seen in a Les Miz cast. Too bad I can't find it anymore.

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Yeah, I really cannot fault anyone in this cast. I didn't used to be big on Rocca's Javert, but he has grown on me in years passed. He has a subtle intensity to his performance and -- you're right, MYB -- he seems very mature in the role. I never get "cruel" or "militia" from him. In fact, I wouldn't even go as far to call him a "cold" Javert ... His delivery is just very direct and matter-of-fact. At first I found it to be a little boring, but then once I realized that not many of the other recorded Javerts are like this, I had to hand it to him. I really think he nails Hugo's character.

[Completely off topic, but I have to add that the Swedish Javert and the OLC (Roger Allam) are among my favorites as well. I don't even really have to mention Philip Quast because by now he's basically a given on anyones list. ]

Jerome Pradon is the best recorded Marius to date and Robert Marien is probably tied with Wilkison as my favorite recorded Valjean. Pitre is an admirable Fantine who sings with just the right mixture of beautiful tone and gutteral base to at once make you realize that Fantine is a exquisitely beautiful creature who is going the way of hell on earth. Honestly, if I had to fault ANYONE, I guess it would be the Enjolras (not sure of his name). Had this part been sung by someone who sounds like Warlow the recording would be absolute perfection.

The Enjolras pales in comparison to most - especially the one on the OFC who has such an amazing DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING?...

ROCCA is great, though his trilled r's get annoying.

Want to add that Jerome Pradon can be seen on the notorious JCS DVD (as a terrible Judas; though he is a great Marius)...Robert Marien was the 10th Anniversary Valjean on Broadway...Louise Pitre was in Mamma Mia!...and the real icing is Marie-France Roussel is the first Mme. Thenardier ever (she appeared on the OFC and, here, on this recording).

I have over 30 recordings of this show, and this one takes the cake. The lyrics are also beautiful.

Updated On: 3/26/07 at 12:52 AM

*sigh* If I could have any theatre recording ever, it would be this one. I've been looking for it for the past 10+ years with no luck. It sounds absolutley amazing, however!

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Not only do I have this recording, too, but I was able to see the show at Theatre Mogador in Paris. I had already seen the show several times on Broadway and in the West End and when I heard about the show in Paris ( based on the Cameron Mackintosh production), I was lucky to have found someone who could buy us tickets for the show before we turned up in Paris.

Even if I could not understand most of the lyrics ( except for " 24601" ), but because I had seen the English version many times before that and had listened to many recordings as well, it was a very memorable theatre experience.

However, I still would have loved to have seen the original production ( I also have the French concept album) at Palais des Sports, the original production and musical score that Cameron Mackintosh fell in love with

Updated On: 3/26/07 at 06:31 AM

It says that the date back to publication is the 2nd of April. So I guess it is coming back.

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What the hell came to their mind when they rewrote the French Lyrics... The first libretto was swell...
La faute à Voltaire is horible in that version ! Give us Fabrice back !

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Lizzie, I believe it's on itunes now.

By the way, the OFFICIAL cast recordings (non bootleg) are:

1 French Concept
2 Original London
3 Original Broadway
4 Tenth Anniversary Recording
5 Manchester Highlights
6 Paris Revival
7 Vienna
8 Duisburg highlights
9 Prague highlights
10 Korean
12 Hungarian (LP/cassette)
13 Värmland (Swedish) highlights- only 5 tracks
14 Stockholm highlights
15 Tel Aviv Highlights (LP/Cassette)
16 Danish
17 Complete Symphonic Recording
18 Bidnici Prague full recording
19 Japanese Red
20 Japanese Blue 1994
21 Japanese Blue 2003
22 Japanese Orange
23 Japanese Violet
24 Japanese Green
25 Madrid
26 Dutch

And there of course a couple of promo cds- I think there is a taiwanese promo, and the berlin promo is just a couple songs from the duisburg album. But beyond that, if you have it it's a bootleg (and yes, I'm considering the tel aviv radio broadcast, the mexican, the argentinan, and the berlin ones bootlegs).

You can get the french one at:

itunes
soundofmusic.de
amazon.fr

and a bunch of other places...just google it.

Edit:

Amazon.fr no longer carries it
http://www.amazon.fr/Miserables-Paris-Cast-Recording-Cast-paris/dp/B00000DXYS/ref=sr_1_1/403-3852715-3878069?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1175001352&sr=1-1

Get it on itunes or ebay

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Updated On: 3/27/07 at 09:02 AM

Wow, that's fantastic news! Does anyone know if the live recording is the same production/cast?

It looks like a four CD deal including the OFC and Paris Revival Recordings - not a live recording of the complete show (which would need 3 CDs - and the Revival recording is spread on the usual 2 CDs).

Perhaps the CD itself was recorded live and edited? I don't know.

By the way, the OFFICIAL cast recordings (non bootleg) are:

I have a Netherlands (Dutch) 2-CD set [Mercury 1991]that seems to be an "authorised" cast recording.
It says "Orginele Nederlandse Versie".

Valjean = Henk Poort
Javert = Ernst Daniel Smid

Nedelandse Tekst: Seth Gaaikema

Should that be included in your listing?


p.s. Regarding French versions.
There seem to be so many syllables.
I don't understand the language, but the sound is beautiful.

Yes, there is an official Dutch recording, with the fabulous Pia Douwes as Fantine. Lesmisforever left it off his/her list, and I didn't catch it either.