Les Miserables- ROCK Opera, or not?

I'm not so sure a cast of rockers could produce the professionally trained sound that you need for this show. It lends itself to being so classical in its technical requirements at points. Interested to hear others thoughts as well.

Yeah, that's what I was gonna say. If thought of in those terms, I've always considered it to be much more of a pop-opera. I don't think much of it really resembles "rock" at all.

To me it's just an extremely operatic musical theater piece with pop influences.

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Interesting that "Send in the Clowns" served as an inspiration, as I don't see how. But artistic minds work in mysterious ways, I suppose.

In any case, I have to agree with those who do not see the show as a rock opera. It is not rock music. It's kinda operatic pop--or, as it has been called, a "pop opera."

I personally feel that the show best lends itself, for the most part, to operatic voices. Alfie Boe was absolutely perfect, and exactly what the role calls for IMO.

I think that what the poster meant was that it will be one of those musicals frequently produced by opera companies, like Sweeney Todd.

Actually in Spain there is a guy who is playing Valjean that also played Jesus.
Sálvalo (Bring Him HOme)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07QgpB8pNqA&feature=fvsr

Gethsemane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVVkZBbEeOg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MdJCr-bCMQ

Colm played Judas before Les Mis fame came rapping on his door.

And so did Drew. I think.

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Updated On: 3/14/11 at 10:21 PM

I have to agree with you. As to not suggest that opera singers can't sing rock and vice versa, I did not critique Clayton's Valjean, but I felt that his voice, although strong, is probably better suited for pop/rock. Alas, I saw his understudy in JCS, so I can't make a comparison between his two performances, although I imagine he was a better Judas than Valjean.

Why even classify it as any kind of opera? What differentiates it from musical theatre?

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"Personally I don't consider Les Miserable a 'rock opera' as unlike JCS & Tommy it is not sung in a pop/rock style by any means, but more a legit musical theater style."

It's been growing more that way ever since it opened. But the original voices were a lot more pop/rock (yes, rock) than legit or operatic. Colm Wilkinson and Frances Rufelle (sounding like a stage version of Cyndi Lauper, at the time) were the two imports from the original London cast. And IMO, they were by far the most interesting when I saw the show in NY right after it opened. Ever since then, replacements, tours, etc., have leaned toward legit theatre or even opera singers (or at least with opera credits) in these roles.

I've never liked that approach.

Evita is another show often cast far away from its rock opera roots.

I think it goes against the score and the characters, as written, to cast legit/trained singers over pop/rock singers. It's like listening to Kiri Te Kanawa sing a Celine Dion power ballad. Or watching a ballet dancer try hip-hop. It might be impressive to some degree, if they have talent, but it's way too controlled and polished for what they're doing. No thanks.

EDIT: Just so you know where I'm coming from, I should add that I was never fond of the Julliard tones of Audra McDonald as Sarah in "Ragtime." It didn't fit the character or the score at all. I much preferred LaChanze in the role. I still think Audra is a brilliant actress/singer, and one of the leading theatrical actresses of her generation. There's no question about her talent.

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Updated On: 3/15/11 at 01:10 PM

"Musical theatre has dialogue. Opera is sung-through."

False.

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""Musical theatre has dialogue. Opera is sung-through."

False."

Would you care to explain yourself to all the wonderful people out there in the dark, themysteriousgrowl?

---Not an expert but some operas have some dialogue, and we know there are musicals that are almost all sung through.

Although music is important in both musicals and operas, the emphasis in opera is more on the music than the story-telling or acting or other elements---although I believe acting in opera has gotten better in recent years than it used to be.

One pretty clear distinction between the two is that although sound systems are used in some opera houses to amplify or improve the total sound (I *think*), the individual performers are not mic-ed (I don't know how to spell that!). The emphasis in opera is on the beauty and power of the voices that can carry throughout the theater without mics. In musicals, the performers have worn mics for many years, and the emphasis isn't as much on the voices.

Updated On: 3/15/11 at 08:13 PM