Les Miserables has almost as many recorded soundtracks as years running. The Cameron Mackintosh company has released a new live recording of the 25th Anniversary production of Les Miserables written and composed by Boublil and Schonberg. This is not to be confused with the new Les Miserables 25th Anniversary concert DVD due out this month. The new two-disc collection of the classic musical numbers features current West-End actors as well as original cast members. Some might wonder with the abundance of soundtracks to this iconic musical, why another? This soundtrack is to be listened to as the companion to the newly orchestrated 25th Anniversary tour running in England and the U.S. also known as the 'Dream the Dream' tour. What this new soundtrack has to offer is a much bigger sounding orchestra that moves its listeners almost as much as the singing actors. For those familiar with the original cast recordings from the 1980s, in comparison to some of the modern musicals of today, find it can often sound a little dated and underblown, not the case with this new cast. The voices of Marius played by Gareth Gates and Fantine played by Madalena Alberto are among the stand-outs, truly taking the music and their characters to a more realistic place. 'One Day More' always a hair raising favorite sounds better than ever as well as the newly popular 'I Dreamed A Dream'. Another thing Les Mis fans will appreciate about this new CD is that like its predecessors, one can listen to the entire show and reimagine the stirring musical as all the dialogue spoken and sung are here but without those small breaks between tracks. It’s a much smoother, uninterupted listen. Les Mis collectors will want to own the hard copy of this soundtrack for its handsome presentation and booklet full of images and lyrics from the new production. Catch the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary tour at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago running through February 27th.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
A Classic Comes Home...Again
Les Miserables has almost as many recorded soundtracks as years running. The Cameron Mackintosh company has released a new live recording of the 25th Anniversary production of Les Miserables written and composed by Boublil and Schonberg. This is not to be confused with the new Les Miserables 25th Anniversary concert DVD due out this month. The new two-disc collection of the classic musical numbers features current West-End actors as well as original cast members. Some might wonder with the abundance of soundtracks to this iconic musical, why another? This soundtrack is to be listened to as the companion to the newly orchestrated 25th Anniversary tour running in England and the U.S. also known as the 'Dream the Dream' tour. What this new soundtrack has to offer is a much bigger sounding orchestra that moves its listeners almost as much as the singing actors. For those familiar with the original cast recordings from the 1980s, in comparison to some of the modern musicals of today, find it can often sound a little dated and underblown, not the case with this new cast. The voices of Marius played by Gareth Gates and Fantine played by Madalena Alberto are among the stand-outs, truly taking the music and their characters to a more realistic place. 'One Day More' always a hair raising favorite sounds better than ever as well as the newly popular 'I Dreamed A Dream'. Another thing Les Mis fans will appreciate about this new CD is that like its predecessors, one can listen to the entire show and reimagine the stirring musical as all the dialogue spoken and sung are here but without those small breaks between tracks. It’s a much smoother, uninterupted listen. Les Mis collectors will want to own the hard copy of this soundtrack for its handsome presentation and booklet full of images and lyrics from the new production. Catch the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary tour at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago running through February 27th.
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I like that you added in the dates of the Anniversary tour at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy that you posed a question, as general as it may be, it is still giving the readers something to look forward to in the review. And you answer the question with great facts and information.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this review. I found it informative and effective, as you gave information about the new material available, and the new "sound" of yet another album release of Les Mis. I am a fan of the show, and am a fan of modernized musical soundtracks. These new releases of older musicals tend to sound fresh and inviting. The vocals often sound more clean, and the engineering often times seems to be simply better. I appreciate your take on this new work. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteNico
I liked how you mentioned that this is a "smooth, uninterrupted listen". I think it really drivews home the point that this is an album that should be listened to from start to finish so the listener can experience the music from the show properly.
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