Les Miserables: Complete Symphonic Cast vs. All Star Cast

[tz0o]

Posted: 5/2/06 at 4:42pm

Ok, here's the scoop: I've recently introduced my friend to the wonderful world of Les Miserables, only she doesn't own the cd. . .yet. I plan to get it for her, only, I don't know which cast to buy. I want her to have the best possible Eponine (her favorite character), the best possible Javert (another one of her favorite characters), the best possible Thernardiers (she likes them, too) and, of course, the best Jean Valjean. I'd get her either the Original Broadway Cast or the Original London Cast Recording, as Frances Ruffelle is, in my opinion, arguably the best Eponine, but as her interpretation of the role is so. . .different. . . that I'm not sure that she'd like it. That leaves the Complete Symphonic Cast and the All Star Cast. I've never heard Gary's Jean Valjean, so I'm not sure if it's any good, which leads to the All Star Cast. . .but I think that Lea Salonga is just too bland as Eponine. Any suggestions?

Posted: 5/2/06 at 4:48pm

I'm in the minority in that I don't think Colm Wilkinson is the be all and end all of Valjean and I actually prefer Gary Morris' portrayal. I'm also in the minority in that the actress playing Eponine on the Complete completely destroys On My Own. Yeah, yeah, English is not her first language. She learned the role phonetically. Impressive accomplishment. I still hated her rendition.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/2/06 at 4:51pm

I despise Gary's Valjean, and only like Colm's singing marginally better. However, the All-Star cast has (IMO) the best overall cast. You won't find a better Javert than Phillip Quast, ditto for Ruthie Henshall's Fantine. You also get Michael Maguire reprising his Tony award winning role, and Michael Ball as Marius. I forget their names right now, but I do enjoy the two Thenardiers on that recording as well (I believe they were both British). I'd go with the All-Star recording because not only is it a better cast, but I love the "live" sound it has (and all the applause breaks).

[theminutepast]

Posted: 5/2/06 at 5:10pm

I've had this problem too when introducing someone to Les Mis. Each CD has its problems. I would strongly advise against the Complete Symphonic. Gary Morris ruins every song. He has no understanding of realistic acting/human emotions. Also, the Fantine and Thenardiers are terrible.

The only flaw I can see in the All Star cast is this: The words in ensemble songs ("At the End of the Day," "One Day More," and the finale) can't be heard well. The orchestra overwhelms the singers at times. But the actors are all amazing. My mom loves the Thenardiers, and won't listen to any other actors/actresses playing the roles. So definitely the All Star cast.
Updated On: 5/2/06 at 05:10 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/2/06 at 5:12pm

i am more accustomed to the Symphonic recording. Philip Quast is a fantastic Javert, and Kaho Shamida is awesome as Eponine. The two Thenardiers are also quite good, as is Michael Ball as Marius and Anthony Warlow as Enjrolas. Gary Morris is also good as Valjean, but that has never been a favorite character of mine.

[AlmostFamous]

Posted: 5/2/06 at 5:16pm

Personally I love Lea as Eponine. I think Frances is okay...but she doesn't amaze me! I also love Ruthie as Fantine and Michael MacGuire (sp?) and Michael Ball are awesome. To me Phillip is by far the best Javert. I guess that shows I like the All Star cast

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/2/06 at 5:20pm

Yes, I think Quast is certainly the definitive Javert. He's on both recordings in question, though, so that's not a factor in the decision.

I had forgotten about that Eponine on the Symphonic recording. I really didn't like her either.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 5/2/06 at 5:23pm

You could buy her the Symphonic Cast album, and then rent the DVD of the Concert, so she can see them as well.

I personally would edge towards the TAC recording though.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/2/06 at 5:57pm

The Complete International Cast (or whatever its called!) has the phenomenal Anthony Warlow as Enjolras. No one on the other recordings comes close to his vocal powerhouse. Sadly no one I have seen live has ever coped that well with the trickier sections of his music. Sadly though the Valjean is terrible. Whiney and poorly acted. Debbie Byrne has a certain fragility as Fantine though. Oh and the ensemble sound a bit iffy on solo lines. Most of them are from the States and dont quite have the authentic accents that I am accustomed to on the OLC or TAC!

Buy the DVD. A far more satisfying experience! Or cross your fingers they record the Broadway revival.

[Claire2141]

Posted: 5/2/06 at 6:14pm

Owning nearly all the recodings out there...I would say 10th Anniversary. Although I prefer Frances to Lea I think the rest of the cast are amazing. I adore Ruthie Henshall as Fantine and Alun Armstrang and whats-her-name as the Thenardiers. Actually I could gush about the cast all night but must go to bed.

Get the TAC - the best.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 5/2/06 at 7:05pm

I agree. Sadly, there's no definitive recording out there -- at least in English. My overall favorite is the 1991 Paris cast with Robert Marien and Louise Pitre, but that won't help you.

I'd say have your friend watch the concert DVD. It'll help with continuity, and although the cast isn't perfect (I'm not a fan of Lea's Eponine or Colm's Valjean), it's the next best thing out there to actually seeing the show.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 5:47am

I've always thought that the complete symphonic recording just sounds a bit . . . lifeless. I've got more used to Gary Morris, though he's still not my favourite JVJ, and the woman playing Eponine is just painful IMO. As Kringas pointed out, the only truly great performance is from Anthony Warlow (well, and Philip Quast, but he's on the concert as well).

I'd go with the 10th Anniversary Concert
Updated On: 5/3/06 at 05:47 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 5:56am

I agree on the "lifeless" sentiment. Not just because of some of the performances, but it all just sounds so sterile and mechanical, probably because it was. The overmixing, especially in "One Day More," does them no favors.

It wasn't to their advantage that so many of the cast members had never met -- there is very, very little chemistry between a lot of them. It's unfortunate.

[Weez]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 7:33am

I prefer the CSR to the All-Star myself. It sounds like Ruthie Henshall was having a bad day on the all-star, Lea Salonga isn't quite my favourite Eponine, and it completely lacks Anthony Warlow. As a bit of a Japanophile, I think Kaho Shimada is adorable as Eponine (and I've heard so much worse English pronunciation by Japanese entertainers; she's really awesome!). Debbie Byrne's voice is a bit of an acquired taste, I think, but now that I've acquired it, I absolutely adore her as Fantine. I prefer Judy Kuhn's Cosette to the CSR one (sorry, I forgot her name and my PC is playing up so Google isn't an option >_<), but I dislike Cosette immensely anyway so it doesn't matter so much to me. Gary Morris is a bit of a weak link; I'm used to him now but I get the feeling I might've liked Valjean better if I were more used to a different actor. But then, that's why I have two recordings. :3

So um... yeah. I would actually recommend the All-Star recording as a first recording to own, but it's always fun to mess around and listen to other casts, because your friend might find one she prefers. And Philip Quast is on both recordings, and that is the main thing. :3

(You cooooould tell her to get both recordings, rip 'em to MP3, and create her own castlist as far as possible. I did that with Beauty And The Beast, because I wanted Australian Gaston and Beast as far as possible with Broadway Belle and Lumiere. XD)

[Colle]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 8:10am

As far as Eponine's go, I don't think you could go wrong with either the TAC or the CSR. I like both Lea Salonga and Kaho Shimada. What is good about the CSR is that it is the recording of the whole show as it was at the time. I enjoy the TAC mostly because of Ruthie and Lea.

In the end though, it is a matter of personal taste. Is there a way your friend could borrow each? That way your friend can compare the two better.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 8:37am

Okay, I am in the minority, but I think you might want to get her the Original Broadway Cast for your friends first listen. I agree with you that Frances is by far te best and think her rendition is the strongest on the OBC recording, it is just very original. The only problem with the OBC is the marius (and I will get to Terrance Mann in a sec) who is horrible. Also, I know a lot of people don't like Randy Graff but I think all the Fantines are different, so your friend should listen to all of them. Now with Javert, if your friend has ever heard Philip Quast then buy her the CSR or the TAC becuase there just is no other Javert, though Terrance Mann is better then the London actor. And on broadway Colm just doesn't sound as good then on the OLC recording. Oh and im sorry but I've never heard the CSR

TO break it down for you:

OBC- my personal fav. like Randy Graff's strong rendition of I dreamed and LOVE On My Own onthis recording

OLC- The best recording out there, becuase of the ensemble and the sound is just great. Colm sounds the best on this one and Patti gives the most heartfelt rendition of I dreamed

TAC- the best cast, only have one problem on this and that is Lea. I love her but it just does not compare to the unique voice of Frances. And Michael Ball is just incredable.

I think you should introduce her to the musical by the OBC but get her the DVD of the TAC to see afterwards.
Updated On: 5/3/06 at 08:37 AM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:35pm

Both recordings have their good points and bad points. I do not really care for Colm or Gary, I think Gary tries to recreate Colm's performance down to every nuance, and I just don't like Colm in the role. I also think that Tracy Sayne's voice is rather shrill at moomments on the symphonic recording. Philp Quast is the best Javaret, but you get him on bot recordings, and he does a fine job on each. One big plus about the symphonic recording is that it is the show in its entirity, but the TAC has the best cast.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 5:40pm

"I agree on the "lifeless" sentiment. Not just because of some of the performances, but it all just sounds so sterile and mechanical, probably because it was. The overmixing, especially in "One Day More," does them no favors.

It wasn't to their advantage that so many of the cast members had never met -- there is very, very little chemistry between a lot of them. It's unfortunate."

They recorded it in several different countries, which I think was a HUGE mistake, becasue they couldn't act the songs. Also, the CSR has synthetic music, so if you want full-blown orchestrations you need the 10th Anniversary Concert.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 6:31pm

The CSR has synthetic music??

Um...the S in CSR stands for "Symphonic." A major point of that recording is that it was recorded by a full symphony orchestra -- at least as large in number as the TAC orchestra -- rather than a theatre-sized pit orchestra.

[Racetrack]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 6:55pm

The first recording I got was the London, but I much prefer the TAC. I felt it was better. I like the CSR too, but Gary Morris(I'm sure he's better in person) just got on my nerves and Tracy Shayne is okay, but I prefer Judy Kuhn. I like Frances, but her voice doesn't wow me like other Eponines have. If it's complete show you want go with CSR, but TAC just has a better cast for me. Alun Armstrong and Jenny Galloway as the Thenardiers is great, Philip Quast as Javert, Ruthie Henshall, and I don't know how many people share my sentiments but I really like Michael Maguire.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 6:59pm

I like Michael Maquire too, honestly. But since there's an Anthony Warlow out there in the world, he's my choice. :)

[musicman89]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 7:10pm

You will find hundreds of different opinions on the topic of which English recording of LES MISERABLES is the best, frankly because none of them stands above the rest. Each has its good and its bad, which is why many fans of the show own numerous recordings.

How was she first exposed to the show? If she was exposed through a cast recording, then you may want to get her that one, seeing as people tend to prefer what they hear first.

My personal favorites are the complete recording on First Night and the original Broadway cast on Decca. I have never been a fan of concert CDs (I want to hear the music, not the audience), and the original London cast has so much altered material that it is almost a different show.

To best introduce her to the show, I would get the original Broadway cast and the Tenth Anniversary Concert on DVD. That way, she can have an excellent recording and see some great performances. If she enjoys the material as much as millions of others have, then she can take it into her own hands to buy other cast recordings.

[Holly Therese]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 7:17pm

I prefer the All Star Cast. I love Lea as Eponine, Michael Ball as Marius and I will probably get stoned for this but, I prefer Michael Maguire to Anthony Warlow (although I do like Warlow on other recordings.) I'm not a huge fan of Gary as Valjean.

Thankfully, the prices of the cds are much cheaper in stores than they are online (or at least in my area they are.) I ended up buying the CSR for $8, and I think I got the TAC for $15. If you can find them cheap enough, I'd get them both. (Actually I'd get the OBC too, but thats just the addict in me talking.)