Les Miserables CSR Performances
Les Miserables CSR Performances
eatlasagna
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
#1Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/20/08 at 11:06pmso i was listening to the les mis CSR and i was wondering if anyone here had seen any of the performers on the recording in their respective roles? were they any good/bad?
TooDarnHot
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/08
#2re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/20/08 at 11:53pm
the CSR with Gary Morris and Philip Quast?
this may be a stupid question but did Gary Morris ever do the role on stage?? I used to believe that he signed on JUST to record the symphonic album. I'm probably wrong.
Philip Quast, in my opinion, is brilliant as Javert. I am actually obsessed with his portrayal of the character. the singing was fine enough but it was his acting (and prescence) that became stunning to watch.
you can catch glimpses of the amazingness on the dvd/vhs of the 10th anni. concert but it doesn't do Mr. Quast justice. I saw his first and last performance as Javert. I was blown away!!
Broadway Matt
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/17/03
#2re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 12:50am
First off, Quast is one of the best performers on the musical theatre stage in the last 20 years. He may not be quite known for his dancing but his Javert, Neville Craven (SECRET GARDEN), Archie Craven (other SECRET GARDEN), George Seurat, Miles Gloriosus and Emile are second to none. So bravo on that point.
Gary Morris played Valjean onstage twice. He was one of the first replacements on Broadway, in 1987. He later played it again in LA, 1991.
"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers
#3re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 12:52amDidn't Gary Morris also play it in just one city (I want to say Boston) on the 1NT, too?
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
COOOOLkid
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/15/05
#4re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 12:55am
I saw Kaho Shimada's performance as Eponine a year ago when she returned for Japan's 20th anniversary production and she was good.
However, I'm sure she was much better back in the days.
"Hey, you! You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!"
-Family Guy
Broadway Matt
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/17/03
#5re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 12:57am
It's very possible. The tour experimented with some interesting casting in its early days.
For instance, my first LES MIZ was in Cupertino, CA in 1993. Valjean was Dave Clemmons (yes, the casting director) and Javert was Chuck Wagner, who remains among my favorites. In the ensemble of the show at that date were a young Sarah Uriarte (no Berry yet) and Brian d'Arcy James.
"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers
#6re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 3:00am
I saw Gary as Valjean on a 1st national tour stop at L.A.'s Pantages Theatre in 1991. He was incredible in the role. Certainly better than his lackluster (well, in comparison) performance on the CSR.
I also saw all the L.A. ensemble cast members that are on the CSR when the show's 2nd national tour premiered at the Shubert in L.A. My memories of the production are quite murky as this was way back in 1989, but I remember being amazed and left speechless by the show and the entire cast--Jordan Bennett's Valjean, Elinore O'Connell's Fantine, Michelle Nicastro's Eponine, Kenny D'Aquila's Grantaire, Karen Fineman's Cosette, Raymond Saar's Enjolras, Jeff McCarthy's Javert, Peter Gantenbien's Marius, Gary Beach's Thenardier (yes, he was better than when he was in the revival, lol), and Kay Cole's Mme. Thenardier.
Recreation of original John Cameron orchestration to "On My Own" by yours truly. Click player below to hear.
Updated On: 8/21/08 at 03:00 AM
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#7re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 11:56amThe problem with CSR (besides the synthesized music of course) is that none of the performers were in the same room. If I recall the liner notes properly, neither Gary Morris nor Philip Quast performed together, their parts were sung separately at different times. So the whole album lacks chemistry and immediacy. There's almost no acting involved.
#8re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 1:41pm
As far as I'm concerned, Michael Ball IS Marius, Philip Quast IS Javert and Barry James IS Thenardier. Hands down the BEST to do those roles.
I would have liked to have seen Gary Morris live. Something tells me he had IT 
Can we all petition to have them make a NEW CSR with all the "changes" please *bats eyes* 
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS
TooDarnHot
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/08
#9re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 1:43pm
I think there should be a reunion concert in 2010.
I'd love to see what kind of shape Colm Wilkinson is in.... where did he go???
Philip, on the other hand, was fabulous in both THE FIX and LA CAUGE in london. ah yess.
#10re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 2:20pm
The problem with CSR (besides the synthesized music of course) is that none of the performers were in the same room.
I am not sure what you mean by "the synthesized music" since this recording, rather famously, uses the 65-member Philharmonia orchestra (40 strings!) plus the 6-piece pit band from the London production.
When this set was released in 1988 music and theatre critics marveled at how the performers sounded as if they had all been in one room.
Of course, this SHOULD have been done with the Broadway cast. By the time the show opened in New York it was already an established hit and since Colm Wilkinson was repeating his now-historic performance, Gefffen should have release the complete show on 3 CD's and a single CD of highlights. Instead they chose to record essentially the same abridged version that First Night had done with the original London cast.
The CSR is at least a partial Broadway cast with Gary Morris and Tracy Shayne recording the roles they were playing at the time the recording was made. Morris was most impressive on stage as Valjean, although Wilkinson more or less owns the part. (Wilkinson last did the show - I believe - in a special 6-month engagement in Toronto in 1998.) It's really nip and tuck between the two.
For me, the CSR is the most satisfying listening experience of all the LES MISERABLES recordings.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#11re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 2:27pmColm Wilkinson was Valjean briefly in San Francisco circa 2002, before he and the US 3rd National Tour (with additions from Broadway and the West End) went to Shanghai to perform there.
'"Contrairiwise," continued Tweedledee, "if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic."'
~Lewis Carroll
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#12re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 2:35pm
I remember hearing a story about reading a story about how people went to a performance of the show in San Fransisco and Colm and the cast that was going to Shanghai did one performance as a practice performance before going to Shanghai. Needless to say the people were surprised to see Colm on the stage and no one was let down at all.
Also, the CSR didn't come out in 88. It came out I want to say 94/95.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#13re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 2:46pmI'm trying to remember... I believe that Colm Wilkinson did two performances in SF (I saw one of them), although I think the remainder of the "imported" cast finished out the SF run. I knew that Wilkinson would be on, but unless you were someone who followed casting announcements online, you probably wouldn't have been aware until you got to the theatre.
'"Contrairiwise," continued Tweedledee, "if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic."'
~Lewis Carroll
#14re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 2:52pmI think he did three because I remember there was an added Monday performance (I was there the Sunday before to see Stephen Tewksbury's "last" performance as Javert), and then Colm Wilkinson had to go back to Toronto for either a family thing or a benefit, or both. Randal Keith finished the rest of the week and Colm met up with the rest of the group in China.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#15re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 2:59pm
GREAT to hear the news about Colm
He IS Jean Valjean.
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS
#16re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 4:14pm
Colm Wilkinson is going to be performing at Town Hall in NYC this October if anyone is interested.
I would have loved to see Jeff McCarthy as Javert! He must have been incredible.
COOOOLkid
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/15/05
#17re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 4:29pm
Also, the CSR didn't come out in 88. It came out I want to say 94/95.
It was released in 1990. Miss Saigon CSR was released in mid-90s.
"Hey, you! You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!"
-Family Guy
#18re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 5:10pmCan someone post a cast list from the CSR?
#19re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 5:14pmGary Morris as Valjean, Philip Quast as Javert, Debra Byrne as Fantine, Gay Soper as Mme. Thénardier, Barry James as Thénardier, Kaho Shimada as Éponine, Michael Ball as Marius, Anthony Warlow as Enjolras, and Tracy Shayne as Cosette.
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#21re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 6:09pm
Fun and irrelevant factoids about Morris:
- WE went to the same High School, and he dated my boss. (This was a good 30 years before I went there)
- He was the first person to record "Wind Beneath my Wings" and had a hit on the country charts with it.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#22re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 6:17pmComplete cast list: http://www.musical-fan.de/discographie/show.php3?MIZCD1
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#23re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 6:27pm
They started recording the CSR in 1988 but, like someone else said, was released in 1990. I was already on my second copy of it by 1991 when I saw Gary in L.A. I have a soft spot for this recording. You can't beat that orchestra. I think the vocal mixing is excellent as it really does sound like they're in the same room. Though as great as the orchestra is, the mixing is a bit off. The strings are gorgeous, but you can barely hear the woodwinds or the guitars. My first Les Mis recording was the OLC, then the OBC, but the CSR was what made me fall in love with the show even more as it contained every note of the score. The only cast members I don't care for on it are Debbie's Fantine and Gay's Mme. Thenardier.
Recreation of original John Cameron orchestration to "On My Own" by yours truly. Click player below to hear.
Updated On: 8/21/08 at 06:27 PM
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#24re: Les Miserables CSR Performances
Posted: 8/21/08 at 6:46pmAnthony Warlow is fantastic on this recording. And Debra Byrne is is my favorite Fantine.
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