Les Miz Symphonic Album

[BeingAlive]

Posted: 8/15/05 at 6:18pm

Sorry if this is completely worthless, but I had to ask
I only have the Broadway cast recording to compare to but it seems like there is something is something wrong with the Symphonic recording. It seems too fast, or something. It's just been bothering me lately and I wanted to know if I was just crazy.

[Shawk]

Posted: 8/15/05 at 6:25pm

The CSR was recorded around the people they selected, so for example, Philip Quast and Gary Morris had to sing their tracks without ever having met. One of the big jarring parts for me is pretty much anything to do with the revolutionaries, as the students were in LA while Anthony Warlow was in Australia, which leaves you not only with some accent issues and overall strangeness, but some tempo problems.

Although individually there are a lot of great performances, the recording does feel a bit pieced together due to the way it was made, at least to me.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 8/15/05 at 6:25pm

eek! I disagree with you completely; the symphonic recording is by far my favorite.

[BeingAlive]

Posted: 8/15/05 at 6:32pm

No! I wasn't bad mouthing it, it just sounds so different to me. I've only listened to it once, though.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/15/05 at 8:47pm

I'm with Shawk -- the album does sound very pieced-together. The fact that the actors didn't know each other and weren't recording with each other results in a lack of chemistry between the performers. The orchestra sounds lovely, though.

My favourite album is easily the 10th Anniversary concert. Although some don't like the clapping from the audience (I don't mind it -- it's theatre, after all), you really feel the dramatic momentum of the night, with the actors playing off each other's performances. Plus, it has a stellar star cast and an amazing orchestra.

[jasonf]

Posted: 8/15/05 at 8:52pm

I have all the English versions of Les Mis and listen to the CSR by far the most. I just like the idea of having the whole show - and while the 10th anniversary is close, it's not quite all there.

[jam_man]

Posted: 8/15/05 at 9:28pm

A couple of the reasons, I believe, that the CSR is "different" is: A) the orchestrations are MUCH fuller, as it IS a 70-piece orchestra, after all, and if you're used to the Broadway recording, it can take a while to get used to them. And B) no Colm Wilkinson. Gary Morris doesn't do it for me. It would be a PERFECT recording with Colm. And Lea Salonga, but that isn't as a must.

[BeingAlive]

Posted: 8/15/05 at 9:43pm

Thanks for the help. It makes sense now. I like it the recording a lot, it's the only full one I have. (The other being a highlights disc).

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 8/15/05 at 10:20pm

Even as much as I love Anthony Warlow....I still can't listen to the CSR because Les Mis just isn't Les Mis for me without Colm Wilkinson. Say what you may about his singing style and voice...but he personafies Valjean for me. Now if we had the 10th anniversary cast (with the addition of Anthony Warlow) and that 70 piece orchestra....I will buy that recording in a heartbeat!