The difference in the Broadway and London Les Mis recordings

I haven't listened to either recording in a while, but I seem to remember that the London version includes a slightly different or expanded version of "In My Life". Like I said, I'm not sure. If you're a completist, then grab the Broadway one for Michael Maguire's beautifully sung Enjolras and Terry Mann's Javert (and try your best to ignore David Bryant's Marius). However, if you're just looking for more music regardless of cast, plunk down the change for the Complete Recording. Every note plus you get two Australian performers, Philip Quast (Javert) and Anthony Warlow (Enjolras), who are exceptionally talented.

Of course, if you have all this and were just specifically asking about Broadway vs. London then you can skip most of what I wrote. :)

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There is a difference in the love montage at the the beginning of the second disc. The London recording has "I Saw Him Once" sung by Cosette (Rebecca Caine) just before picking up "In My Life." For Broadway "I Saw..." was cut and "Life" was expanded (as sung by Judy Kuhn, whom I prefer).

There is also a difference in "Stars" - the orchestration is different. Roger Allam's Javert on the London album gets a subtle finish on "Keeping watching in the night" while Terrence Mann on the Broadway album gets the money note finish. (Once again, I prefer the latter).

~Kevin

Updated On: 5/1/04 at 08:23 PM

Hi! I've never posted before, but here goes...

The London cast has a God-awful extended version of "Little People", but I think "One Day More" is much more stirring on the London version (the
B'way recording sounds a little slowed down - or is that just me?). Plus the London version has Patti ("dying for art in the part of a tart..."). Judy Kuhn does so much more with Cosette than the girl on the London version, but when it comes down to it, I still prefer the London version (the anniversary cast is a very close second, though - I think Philip Quast is amazing as Javert). I wasn't crazy about the Symphonic Recording...the music was amazing, but I though Gary Morris was really weak, and this show really lives or dies by it's Valjean.

The London recording is the one I currently own. It has a good cast, but from what I hear, it's not as complete as any of the other recordings. Patti LuPone and Michael Ball are both standouts, but I would like to hear Randy graff, Judy Kuhn, and the wonderful Terrance Mann.

It's really the orchestrations of the London album that I like better. The US recording is too choppy in some parts for me.

The London cast recording is definately the most incomplete recordings of all the non-highlight ones. That is very unfortunate because I love the London cast. Especially Roger Allam's portrayal of Javert - my favourite and no one has beaten it yet....although I do like Phillip Quast and Michael McCarthy.

Tom

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Updated On: 5/14/04 at 11:28 PM

I agree that the One Day More is most stirring on the OLC, and I won't lie I don't listen to my OBC that much although I do love Terrence Mann's Stars.

Actually, my opinion really isn't all that relevant since the version of it that I listen to the most is the TAC (10th Anniv) which really isn't very complete at all. But, everyone's right, if you want to listen to the most complete then the Complete Symphonic is the way to go (remembering that from the Broadway 10th Anniv on there were some shortenings and tweakings done to the show so that if you saw the Broadway production in March or 1997 or after there will be differences from the CSR) although personally I find Kaho's Eponine to be not the best one around.

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