Les Miserables - The Dream Cast in Concert

Starring:Colm Wilkinson, Philip Quast, Ruthie Henshall, Jenny Galloway, Alun Armstrong, Lea Salonga, Michael Ball, Michael Maguire, Judy Kuhn, Anthony Crivello, Adam Searles, Hannah Chick, Jan Jezek, Gabriel Kakon, Rob Guest, Darryl Knock, Tommy KÃ¶rberg, Valda Aviks, Jeff Leyton, Michael McCarthy (VII)
Director: John Caird, Paul Kafno, Gavin Taylor
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video
The 10th anniversary concert video of the international musical sensation Les MisÃ©rables might be the best thing to appease fans until a full-fledged movie comes along. Or it might be even better, as feature films are often subject to extramusical casting considerations and this 1995 dream cast is superb. Reprising their roles from the original London company are Colm Wilkinson (Valjean), Michael Ball (Marius), and Alun Armstrong (Thenardier). From Broadway come Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Lea Salonga (Eponine), and Michael Maguire (Enjolras); from a later London production comes Ruthie Henshall (Fantine); and from Australia comes Philip Quast (Javert).

Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel SchÃ¶nberg's score vividly captures the passion of Victor Hugo's epic tale of post-Revolutionary France, combining tear-jerking ballads ("I Dreamed a Dream," "Bring Him Home") and rousing anthems ("Do You Hear the People Sing"). The format of this concert is closer to that of a dramatic cantata rather than a fully staged production; the singers stand at their microphone stands with an orchestra and chorus behind them, but they do wear costumes and participate in some movement. At certain points such as the climax of the barricade scene, the video switches to action from a stage production. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra sounds great, and it can be thrilling when 200 choristers (dressed in logo T-shirts) rise to their feet for a full-company number such as "One Day More." Also, subtitles provide date and scene information and help move the story along.

Amazon.com essential video

The 10th anniversary concert video of the international musical sensation Les Misérables might be the best thing to appease fans until a full-fledged movie comes along. Or it might be even better, as feature films are often subject to extramusical casting considerations and this 1995 dream cast is superb. Reprising their roles from the original London company are Colm Wilkinson (Valjean), Michael Ball (Marius), and Alun Armstrong (Thenardier). From Broadway come Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Lea Salonga (Eponine), and Michael Maguire (Enjolras); from a later London production comes Ruthie Henshall (Fantine); and from Australia comes Philip Quast (Javert).

Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score vividly captures the passion of Victor Hugo's epic tale of post-Revolutionary France, combining tear-jerking ballads ("I Dreamed a Dream," "Bring Him Home") and rousing anthems ("Do You Hear the People Sing"). The format of this concert is closer to that of a dramatic cantata rather than a fully staged production; the singers stand at their microphone stands with an orchestra and chorus behind them, but they do wear costumes and participate in some movement. At certain points such as the climax of the barricade scene, the video switches to action from a stage production. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra sounds great, and it can be thrilling when 200 choristers (dressed in logo T-shirts) rise to their feet for a full-company number such as "One Day More." Also, subtitles provide date and scene information and help move the story along.

The 147-minute video contains footage not seen when Les Mis was a PBS pledge-drive staple, most notably the encore in which a progression of 17 actors who have played Valjean around the world share "Do You Hear the People Sing?" Each sings a line in his native language, a testament to the enduring power of this show to audiences everywhere. --David Horiuchi

Description

The 10th anniversary of the international musical sensation Les Misérables is celebrated in this 1995 concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. The all-star cast features Colm Wilkinson (Valjean), Ruthie Henshall (Fantine), Michael Ball (Marius), Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Lea Salonga (Eponine), Philip Quast (Javert), and Alun Armstrong (Thenardier). Favorite songs from the Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg score include "Who Am I?", "I Dreamed a Dream," "Master of the House," "One Day More," "Do You Hear the People Sing?" and "Bring Him Home."

Customer Reviews:

The best of the best - - .......2007-06-10

I have this show in the VHS format and am more thrilled each time I see it. It is very touching and goose-bump-raising. Would love to have it with English sub-titles, which means on DVD, which means $118.00 or more, which my budget won't allow. But if anyone out there can hack it, it would be well worth the investment. Just let me warn you, however, the more often you see it, the more you will love it. Be sure to see it to the bitter end of the tape/disk, where there is an unexpected treat: The main (or one of the main) songs is shared by maybe 12 different artists, each from a different country, each from a different production of the world-wide show, each singing one phrase following the previous one of the song. Thrilling! The music is haunting throughout the show, and there is not an inferior voice in the whole cast. All send goose-bumps, and the projection of emotion is superb. Don't miss it, in whichever format!!

A Moving Musical.......2007-04-23

Unbelievable! I bought both the CD soundtrack, and the DVD of this inconcievably brilliant musical collaboration and automatically was hooked.

I've never seen any other Les Miserables performances on stage. I do admit I watched the movie starring Liam Neeson. But when I watched this concert, I was immediately biased.

Colm Wilkinson has such a heartwarming yet awe inspiring way of bringing Jean Valjean to life. And the fact that at his age he could still hit those higher notes was just a testament to him being on the dream cast.

Ruthie Henshall. Fantine the mother of little Cosette played by Hannah Chick. Never before have I seen a more perfect merging of character and performer. When she sang I Dreamed A Dream, you could feel and see every emotion coming forth. You could believe what she was going through, and she deserved her spot on the dream cast.

Judy Kuhn. Older Cosette. Before Pocahontas, Judy Kuhn made Cosette her own. She made it quite seen that she enjoyed her role and that she was feeling the love for Marius who was played by Michael Ball. Micheal Ball being the brilliant vocalist he was, was another testament to his role and spot on the cast.

Phillip Quast as Javere. A character I felt so many emotions for. Hatred, understanding, pity, respect. He was definately a character for the ages. And Quast was so tear jerking as Javere, especially when his character commits suicide. I did truly feel sorry for Quast's character, and I also respected his determination once he performed the song Stars.

Lea Salonga as Eponine. Another Disney veteran(Aladdin), her performance of On My Own deserved the outstanding ovation she recieved. She was tender, she was honorable, she made it quite easy for the audience to be sympathetic to her cause and strife.

Other very honorable mentions include Adam Searles who played Gavroche, Michael Maguire who portrayed Enjorlas, Alun Armstrong who played the innkeeper and of course Hannah Chick whom I mentioned earlier portrayed the younger Cosette.

The best performances in my opinion were the ensemble performing the song One Day More during the end of Act 1, Michael Maguire's performance of Do You Hear The People Sing, the epilogue of the performance at the end of Act 2, and one performance I didn't expect to mention, Michael Ball's performance of the song Empty Chairs At Empty Tables.

Keep an eye on the DVD for the gathering of every Valjean from the performances around the world performing with Colm Wilkinson a multi lingual version of Do You Hear The People Sing, and then belting out with the rest of the ensemble a powerful encore of the chorus from One Day More.

Do you hear the people sing? Well if you buy this DVD of Les Miserables, I garauntee you will and more.

A Spectacular Masterpiece.......2007-04-06

Les Miserables is always wonderful, but the Dream Cast Concert surely deserves a special mention. I have seen the DVD five times, and still am held spellbound by the exquisite music and amazing performances.
It is truly the Dream Cast. Colm Wilkinson delivers his songs with a beautifully perfected panache. He manages to portray Valjean with both the veiled threat of the ex-convict and the softened repentance of the philanthropistic mayor. Phillip Quast is the epitomy of Javert, managing to create an Inspector who is both law-bound and human at once.
Alun Armstrong performs the most hilarious Thernadier I have ever seen, expertly backed by Jenny Galloway.
Michael Maguire is a passionately fierce Enjolras, and Michael Ball performs Marius with just the right touch of good humour. Ruthie Henshaw's Fantine is suitably poignant, while Lea Salonga's clear voice and superb acting skills make certain that her Eponine will never be forgotten.
While I found the singing and acting fantastic, after a few viewings of the DVD, the discerning watcher becomes more intrigued by what the performers are doing while sitting down. The interaction between Javert and Valjean is especially intriguing. It's satisfying, too, for all those who wished that the two redoubtable characters could have been friends.
Also worth a mention is the heart-stopping rendition of Do You Hear The People Sing at the end of the concert performed by 17 Valjean's from some of the World's productions.
I highly reccomend this production.

Just amazing.......2007-04-03

What to say...it is just amazing...I just can't stop watching this opera once a time. The opera and actors are sublime, you are like surrounded in this opera and you can't do anything except watching and listening.
Marvellous.

Spectacular.......2007-02-08

This is one of the finest productions I have ever seen..Too bad more aren't being produced.

Les Miserables in Concert: The Dream Cast [Region 3]

Average customer rating:

Les Miserables in Concert: The Dream Cast [Region 3]
Starring: Alun Armstrong , Michael Maguire , Philip Quast , Lea Salonga , and Anthony Crivello
Director: David Charles Abell , Trevor Nunn , and John Caird
Manufacturer: Pim
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Making of "Miss Saigon"

ASIN: B000NDEXFC
Release Date: 2007-01-22

Les Miserables - The Dream Cast in Concert (Superbit Collection)

Average customer rating:

The best of the best - -
A Moving Musical
A Spectacular Masterpiece
Just amazing
Spectacular

Les Miserables - The Dream Cast in Concert (Superbit Collection)
Starring: Colm Wilkinson , Philip Quast , Ruthie Henshall , Jenny Galloway , and Alun Armstrong
Director: John Caird , Gavin Taylor , and Paul Kafno
Manufacturer: Columbia/Tri-Star
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Superbit Collection | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Andrew Lloyd Webber - The Royal Albert Hall Celebration
Cats - The Musical (Commemorative Edition)
Les Miserables
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Into the Woods (Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B00000FZ9Z
Release Date: 2003-09-12

Amazon.com essential video

Description

The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the DVD video format.

Customer Reviews:

The best of the best - - .......2007-06-10

A Moving Musical.......2007-04-23

A Spectacular Masterpiece.......2007-04-06

Just amazing.......2007-04-03

Spectacular.......2007-02-08

This is one of the finest productions I have ever seen..Too bad more aren't being produced.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

CBS Evening News (September 13, 2005)

Father Frost : DVD

Bo Selecta - Series 3

DVD: Beauty and the Beast Disney Read-Along

Identity