Les Miz French Concept Album

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 5:40pm

I was browsing my local Borders today and almost died when I saw this cd sitting on the shelf, just waiting to be bought. I didn't know there was a such thing as this. Anyone own it? Thoughts? I would love to know more about it! I actually didn't buy it because it was $30 and I don't have that much disposable income. But I would love to hear more about it!

Updated On: 3/26/05 at 05:40 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 5:48pm

try getting it used on Amazon for five bucks...

there's only one for that cheap so hurry... Updated On: 3/26/05 at 05:48 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 5:49pm

It's "Concept" album.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 6:57pm

HAHA

COnception

Yes, it's one that I have and it is good - different from the show - includes a mention of Azelma, Valjean's part is small, and marius' grandfather is in it.

The Mme. Thenardier also played her in the Paris Revival Cast - she's one of the best!

Claude-Michel Schonberg plays Courferac or Combferre....

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 7:06pm

It's a wonderful album, which Cameron Mackintosh fatefully heard and decided to bring it to the UK as a full-fledged musical.

Most notably, the melody for "On My Own" was originally Fantine's, and Eponine had another beautiful melody (I don't remember the title..."L'Un Pour L'Autre" or something) that is now only heard in snippets in the final LES MIZ.

Updated On: 3/26/05 at 07:06 PM

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 7:07pm

I am soo gonna buy this.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 7:13pm

L'Un Vers L'Autre...the original On My Own

Deux anges qui se découvrent
n'ont rien à expliquer
deux âmes qui se retrouvent
ont tout dit sans parler
j'ai souvent rêvé dans les bras de Marius d'être à sa place
devant ce bonheur d'un autre monde
la jalousie s'efface

Ils marchaient sans savoir l'un vers l'autre
comme la chance quand elle cherche le hasard
deux enfants mis au monde l'un par l'autre
pour jouer les héros d'une histoire

Ils descendent des nuages
rayonnants de mystère
pour faire un long voyage
d'amour sur cette terre

A peine se sont-ils vus
qu'ils se sont reconnus
avant de se connaître

Le bonheur leur va bien l'un à l'autre
un aveugle en son c_ur pourrait le voir
le bonheur ça fait mal chez les autres
quand on n'a pas de rôle dans l'histoire

Mais dans une pièce a deux
les autres n'ont pas d'réplique
ils sont dans le public

Ils marchaient sans savoir l'un vers l'autre
et la chance a trouvé le hasard
on n'peut plus les aimer l'un sans l'autre
sans trahir la morale de l'histoire.


The J'avais reve d'une autre vie (I dreamed a dream) is amazing!

Updated On: 3/26/05 at 07:13 PM

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 8:25pm

Man I would love to have this. Is it worth spending the money on?

[Thenardier]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 8:29pm

Yes indeed.

If you are a Les Mis fan - it is. It's the original, so it'd somewhat different. Awesome to see the show's origin...

Valjean's part isn't great - which is OK because Maurice Barrier sucks...

[Jon]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 10:22pm

The singing is less operatic - more of a raw, folksy sound. The orchestrations are more "pop" and less symphonic. It really has a "ROCK OPERA" feel - like J.C. Superstar.

[EVIE]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 10:26pm

You should buy it. Eponine, adult Cossette and Enjolrus in this recording are fantastic in my opinion. Also check out Ebay, you might find it there cheaper.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 10:34pm

Well, I am a Les Miz fan to say the least. It's my favorite show of all time (that I have seen). I can't say I know everything about it (obviously), it's just an amazing show. I will definelty have to look in to this.

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 10:48pm

I am such a Les Mis junkie, lol. This is the best there is. Especially the version of Javert's SOliloquy. Listen to it, all the way through, and when you get to the end - turn out the lights. Make everything dark. And you will be absolutely terrified! The track is called "Noir ou Blanc" or something like that. All the songs are majestic, more atmospheric than what ended up in London. It's really intriguing. Unfortunately, it lacks all the new hits - Bring him Hoem and Stars etc., and Lovely Ladies - which is only very minor after I Dreamed a Dream. If you ever see this album, there should be no exception -except if you don't have the money (of course) - to buying it. You have to get it. It's one of the most beautiful recordings

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 10:49pm

And it's all in French I assume?

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 10:50pm

Wasn't there meant to be a French Miss Saigon? And are B&S working on anything new?

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 12:21am

I have it, its increidble (les mis) But I am wondering if there is a Miss Saigon french album.

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 12:45am

Yeah, it's all in French. My understanding of the Miss Saigon album (French) is that it doesn't exist... although there were plans in the making of the musical. They probably didn't have the time. But imagine it anyway. It would be really interesting. They should write another musical: Great Expectations or Beauty and the Beast. I don't know ?? Why have they gone quiet ?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 1:25am

I had heard that there was a falling out after MARTIN GUERRE, but now I hear the two are writing a new musical called THE PIRATE QUEEN, based on an Irish story. Can anyone confirm?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 1:32am

Click the link if you want to read English translations to the Concept Album's lyrics.
http://mmebahorel.cafemusain.com/translations/ofc.html

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 1:39am

well, now, there is some kind of French MISS SAIGON album because in the making of documentary Cameron says the first thing he got of MISS SAIGON was a tape of the first act all in French which he says "completely confused" him...
Updated On: 3/27/05 at 01:39 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 1:45am

They were apparently going to release it, but the cost was prohibitive. Read this on a Time Magazine CD ROM I had in the mid-90s. At the time it had archived every Time article until about 1994. (I don't have it anymore.)

[musicnmath]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 1:52am

For those fans of musicals in French out there....Notre Dame de Paris is very good (French was first, I believe) as is Romeo et Juliet. Friends tell me that Starmania (Le Monde est stone is a phenomenal song) and Les Dix Commandments are excellent, but I've yet to listen to them in their entirety...

just thought I'd jump in on this discussion :)

[Thenardier]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 2:44am

Lizzie - was just gonna post that!

OK - The one bad thing about it is that There is no Stars and Jacques Mercier (Javert) is amazing - comparable to Quast by all means.

Stars on the Paris Revival CD is beautiful and Rocca does a great jump (except for the rolling of his r's - really annoys me...but gets better during his suicide)...


Je prefere quiter ce monde
Qui tolere les Valjean
Et ou Javert volerait
Le pain du governement

Talk about tying in the story in the last thing he says before dying.


Not that the Paris Revival (aka the show in French) is anything bad:

Je prefere quiter ce monde
Qui tolere les Jean Valjeans
Toute ma vie fut un erreur
Je la retourne au neant

But I love the original better!

Lord I wish I had it in school with me!

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 4:54am

The Pirate Queen? What a leap. They should do Birth of a Nation or another epic. Imagine if they did Lord of the Rings? It would actually sound good. Or a Boublil and Schonberg, don't laugh, version of Terminator (and I am actuallt working on a rock-opera of the first film, lol). I love their music, whatever it sounds like. I'm very sentimental, lol. Whatever they right, it can't go wrong (though I have only heard bits of Martin Guerre). As for the Miss Saigon video: I have never seen it. But I have one on Les Miserables, Stage by Stage, which is pretty interesting. It kind'a does a documentary on the making of the complete album and looks at footage from productions worldwide. Who else thinks, now I think of it, a video - a la Cats - of Les Miserables is needed? Perhaps it can be done with this year's 20th Anniversary? (Petition-time lol?)

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 4:58am

QUOTE

For those fans of musicals in French out there....Notre Dame de Paris is very good (French was first, I believe) as is Romeo et Juliet. Friends tell me that Starmania (Le Monde est stone is a phenomenal song) and Les Dix Commandments are excellent, but I've yet to listen to them in their entirety...

just thought I'd jump in on this discussion :)



I was reading an article, in Time once, where the West End was getting 'besieged' by French musicals: Notre Dame de Paris, something Charles Aznavour was working on, and something else. Were any of these, despite Notre Dame, successes? And were they staged? I've never heard of them but I'm curious