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I had no idea that it would be so difficult to find the original uncut version of this magnificent production. I had worn the old tape out over the years. Fortunately, Amazon had several sources and I am now reliving the thrill of seeing it on Broadway years ago. If you had more stars to give, I would give them all.
I purchasd a slightly used copy of the original version of Les Miserables. The CD was excellent and the service was great.
PURCHASED THIS BROADWAY SOUNDTRACK OF LES MISERABLES AS A GIFT FOR MY DAUGHTER. SHE LOVES IT.
Colm Wilkinson and Francis Ruffelle reprise their roles in the Broadway Cast album. His "Do you hear the People Sing" makes me want to pick up a rifle and start marching for no reason. Randy Graff is an inferior Fantine, and David Bryant pales in comparison to Michael Ball. Mann's voice does not really fit the character of Javert as well as Phillip Quast or Roger Allam, but it is a unique voice that I like to listen to over and over again. People who do not like the London Album's slow tempo will prefer this version. I prefer his rendition of Stars to Roger Allam's because the lyrics were changed for the better. Their performances are excellent, but the cast members I really want to focus on are Terrence Mann and Michael Maguire. There are two weak links in the chain, in my view.
It is almost exactly the same as the best version, Philip Quast's, only one or two words are different. Few voices have ever instilled patriotism in me like Michael Maguire's. Other than that, the rest of the cast is splendid. The tempo is more like the play as it is now, and the sound quality is better to boot.
His rhythms are odd, his enunciation is just strange, and his voice is far too light. I also very much dislike Terrence Mann's Javert; he always seems to crop up on people's lists of greatest Javert actors, and I cannot for the life of me understand why.
It comes up a little bit short when compared to the OLC, however; Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle are on both recordings, but they are much stronger on the OLC.Michael Maguire is a clear advantage, in my opinion, over David Burt as Enjolras, but the favorable comparison ends after that. I like Patti Lupone more than Randi Graff as Fantine, although Ruthie Henshall is far better than both of them.
I adore Les Mis, and the OBC is a nice recording of it. His head voice is very thin and seems to be on the verge of cracking often, although his belt is decent.
I love Judy Kuhn and I think her Cosette was good, but Rebecca Caine's voice was potentially better suited to the role. David Bryant's Marius was very, very poor, especially when compared to Michael Ball's.
He doesn't even make my Top 5. Not as good as Roger Allam on the OLC, and not even in the same league as Philip Quast (CSR and TAC).In all, I suppose, it's a good recording, and a valuable part of a historical musical.
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