Leszek5
It is my favorite musical and one of my favorite DVD. But I made mistake. I had seen DVD before I saw London performance. The problem is, that this performance is cut comparing to stage score. Not to much, but significantly. I understand of course, that score was to long for TV broadcast. But in my opinion too many important songs were cut. F.eg. solo of Valjean from "Thenardier Waltz of Treachery" and ending of this song (with young Cosette), first meeting of Marius and Cosette (The Robbery), and definitely duet of Marius and Valjean in "The Wedding". Lack of these songs and lack of stage movement causes understanding of full show difficult. So do not watch this movie before watching theatrical performance. Stop complaining. It is really extraordinary performance. Singers are doing their best - Wilkinson, Quast, Henshall, Galloway, Salonga, Ball and Armstrong are simply breathtaking. Definitely best performances I have ever heard. Chorus consisting of 200 singers singing a cappella is incredible. 17 Valjeans ending show give you unique impression how different tenors might be good performers of this score. This DVD is perfect reminder of stage show. I hope 25th Anniversary performance planned on 3rd October 2010 in O2 Dome will contain stage movements and will be recorded for DVD broadcast too.
Conspirator Slash
This is just perfec. A wonderful cast, and they even play before the microphones.My two favorites are Lea Salonga and Philip Quast. They almost steal the show, but in this show, everybody is great.Quast - oh my, I never knew before that Javert can be THAT hot and that - humanly. He's so cool. I fell in love with the Inspector, what I never did when reading the book or watching a movie. I cried on his death scene.Lea is just so sweet. And her voice is percfect. Eh, Marius is either blind or deaf... or both.
mad_mike2
This is the closest it seems we shall get to a film version of the legendary stage musical (to my knowledge), and it is definitely a worthy effort. It goes without saying that the quality of music is incredible and the performances are excellent throughout, although a few are slightly unconvincing. To elaborate:The Cast (Not in order of appearance as it is stated):Colm Wilkinson (Jean Valjean): The original and arguably the best Valjean, his voice may not be to everyone's taste, (and seemed slightly weak to me early during the concert, e.g. Philip Quast seemed to out sing him in The Confrontation, before picking up at One Day More) but with a wonderful, practically unmatched emotional range and dynamic use of eyebrows he more than acquited himself in the role. His Bring Him Home is, in my opinion, unsurpassed.Philip Quast (JAVERT): Wow. What a performer (3 well deserved Olivier Awards attest to this), able to emanate the harshness of Javert as well as securing great sympathy for an apparently unlikable character. Mr Quast steals the show in my opinion and acts as a great magnet each time he appears. His majestic voice, like Mr Wilkinson's, is capable of expressing a great range of emotions, and, again like CW, provides definitive renditions of Stars and Javert's Suicide. He has since become one of my very favourite actors and he is wonderful in Evita, currently lighting up the West End. If you can find it, his Live at the Donmar album is a must. Ruthie Henshall (Fantine): Another deservedly well respected performer, whose voice at times breaks a little but is otherwise faultless. I feel she offers a clearer, more angelic Fantine than Patti Lupone on the Original London Recording, and I personally prefer this interpretation. Alun Armstrong and Jenny Galloway (The Thenardiers): Two more perfectly cast actors. Armstrong is hilariously twitchy and shifty, but adds a sinister edge at The Dog Eats the Dog. Galloway is gifted with supreme comic timing and an intimidating physique, making her ideal. Lea Salonga (Eponine): One of the minor flaws in the concert is that I cannot understand why anyone would choose Judy Kuhn over the short yet spunky, powerfully voiced and infinitely more attractive Miss Saigon. As performances go, her's is excellent. I think there is some merit in the arguments those who say that Frances Rufelle (Original London and Broadway) is probably closer to the original text, but it cannot be denied that Ms Salonga is exquisite. Her performance is especially moving during A Little Fall of Rain, and her On My Own is quite frankly show stopping. Michael Ball (Marius): A Great British institution whose thunderous voice puts those of other students to shame. He makes a wonderful foil for Lea Salonga during A Little Fall of Rain, is both passionate and sensitive during Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, but before both of these is magnificently uneasy and tender during A Heart Full of Love.Michael Maguire (Enjolras): A criticism that could be made of all the students in the Concert is that they are all far to old. This is most clearly shown by Mr Maguire. A fantastic voice to be sure, but he just seemed out of place to me, and at times he sounded more like a Marine than a student.Judy Kuhn (Cosette): Another terrific voice, but as with Michael MAguire, she seems out of place. As i stated above, I couldn't understand why Marius would set his cap at someone who, dare I say it, resembles a horse. I am almost certainly being to superficial, but still, I wasn't convinced.Anthony Crivello (Grantaire): Did good.Adam Searles and Hannah Chick (Gavroche and Young Cosette): As Above.One more criticism I have of the production is that the sections of The Robbery, Javert's Intervention and Eponine's Errand, amongst others, were left out, as I would die to hear them but don't want to buy the Complete Symphonic Recording (With only three performers worthy of note in my opinion). Otherwise, The Les Miserables Tenth Anniversary Concert is a great spectacle that is a must for any fans of the show and/or book. When watched for the first time, or the hundredth, it remains an inspiring work.
