Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert

Les Miserables: 10 Anniversary Concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. Directed by John Caird and Gavin Taylor. 148 minutes. [Source: Library]

Features Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, Philip Quast as Javert, Ruthie Henshall as Fantine, Jenny Galloway as Madame Thenardier, Alun Armstrong as Thenardier, Lea Salonga as Eponine, Michael Ball as Marius, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras....

Premise/plot: This film is not a production of the musical itself but a concert featuring the music from the musical. One disc is the concert. The other disc is the special features. The special features include two documentaries that are well worth watching.

My thoughts: I have seen the 2012 film adaptation of the musical. I have very mixed feelings about the film. I really do. I think it is almost torturous to watch in places. It definitely is not a film that I'd ever say "again, again, again" after viewing.

I LOVE the book. It's one of my FAVORITE books of all time. I think the musical only makes sense if you've read the book OR if you've watched a better film adaptation.

So what did I think of this concert? Well, I found myself liking it much more than I thought I would. I liked the concert aspect of it--especially seeing the orchestra behind them and the ensemble cast. The ensemble cast wore Les Miserables t-shirts. The main characters were in costume.  (Probably two dozen or so were in costume.) Valjean and Eponine were my FAVORITES.

I though the singing was EXCELLENT for the most part. I also love watching orchestras.

My favorite songs:

I Dreamed a Dream, Fantine
Who Am I, Valjean
Fantine's Death, Fantine and Valjean
One Day More, Valjean, Marius, Cosette, Eponine, Enjolras
On My Own, Eponine
Bring Him Home, Valjean
Epilogue (Finale), Valjean, Fantine, Cosette and Marius, Ensemble



© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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