Rating: 
Summary: STUNNING
Review: Absolutely stunning. If you are a Les Mis fanatic, you have not lived until you see this. Watching this ultimate "dream cast" is almost as good as watching the Broadway performance. Enough praise cannot be uttered for Colm Wilkinson - he is THE Jean Valjean, and can never be upstaged. The power & expression from this man is just unbelievable. When he is enraged, you are angry. When he is upset, you feel his pain. His "Bring Him Home" literally brought tears to my eyes. The duets between JVJ and Javert (Philip Quast) were also fantastic. Quast's best moment was in "Javert's Suicide" - utter desperation was exactly what was portrayed. Ruthie Henshall (Fantine) was magnificent, her voice is beautiful. Michael Ball (Marius) was absolutely wonderful, especially in "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables". Michael Maguire (Enjolras) thoroughly impressed me by turning a smaller part into a strong and admirable role. The Thenardiers - hilarious, especialle Madame (Jenny Galloway). Young Cosette was adorable, but even moreso was Gavroche. The best part? The finale - 17 JVJ's from all over the world, led in by multicultural Gavroches, singing a line of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" in their native tongues. The amount of talent in these 17 men is just indescribable - you have to hear it. Stunning, I tell you.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!!!!!!
Review: I had never seen a live stage production of Les Miserables. I saw this concert for the first time on PBS and fell in love with Les Miserables. I wanted to read and hear everything that was Les Miserables (Broadway and London cast albums, Symphonic album, The Making of Les Miserables book, etc.). After hearing all of the albums, I definitely feel that, as the video cover says, this is the dream cast. Colm Wilkinson is the most passionate Jean Valjean. Philip Quast expresses Javert's beliefs in song and action very clearly. Michael Maguire ,as Enjolras, is the ultimate student leader. No one can be Marius better than Michael Ball. Just listen to him sing "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables." Lea Salonga as Eponine singing "On My Own" brings tears to your eyes as she sings about her unrequited love for Marius. Ruthie Henshall captured Fantine's longing to support and raise her daughter Cosette. I could go on and on about this production but I don't want to give away everything about the Les Miserable story. BUY THE VIDEO NOW AND SEE FOR YOURSELF! I own a copy and I believe you will come to love Les Miserable as I do.
Rating:
Summary: A treasured DVD.
Review: This DVD is like a gift. It nearly recaptures the feeling of seeing the live show. I've seen the show performed many times in both New York and London. I can't believe it actually closed. Every now and then I would go through a LES MIS fixation and I'd go to a matinee. I'm sure it's going to be revived soon enough. For the time being I'll just have to pull out all of my cds- I went a little cuckoo there and had to have every single available version. I don't like Terence Mann's Javert in the New York recording- "Confrontation" just doesn't sound right. I guess overall the London recording is my favorite. I'm not crazy about Gary Morris's Valjean in the Complete Recording although it's still great to have every single note of the show available to you. I'm fortunate enough to play the piano and it's always great fun to get together with some friends and go through the selections. I'm dieing to have the complete piano score available to me someday but I just got the "In Concert" sheet music that contains never-before-released songs like "What Have I Done?" and "Red and Black" so I'm thankful for that. There's only one problem I have with this DVD- it's Lea Salonga. I just don't care for her performance. LES MIS is a difficult musical to perform because the intricate story and the character's feelings and motivations are communicated to the audience by the interpretation of the lyrics. I just don't like Salonga's delivery. I don't think she has a full grasp of the delicate weaving of acting and singing that is necessary here. Another user commented that she has a sweet voice. See, I don't hear that at all. Her delivery in every song is jagged and it clashes with the other players' effortless and smooth translation. -To love another person is to see the face of God.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Fabulous
Review: Buy this!! I did, on VHS, from PBS several years ago, and have watched it literally hundreds of times. I never tire of it. I subsequently purchased the 2-disc CD, which is the best way to spend long hours in a car. The cast is fabulous, and so entertaining. I saw the musical in NYC in 1990, and this cast is far superior. I've also managed to get my children (boys, aged 7 and 3)interested in the story and the music (thanks mainly to Gavroche), and we are all hoping for a revival so they can see it on Broadway!
Rating:
Summary: The definitive Les Miz portrayal
Review: Les Miz is an incredible musical and this is an incredible cast. Hannah Chick has the sweetest little Cosette I ever heard and she doesn't miss a note. Adam Searles is a very street-smart seeming, clever guy when he plays Gavroche. I wish Little People hadn't been cut so short! The Thénardiers were annoying, though I suppose that's how they should be. But really, was Alun Armstrong's nasal voice absolutely necessary? Judy Kuhn has a nice Cosette though initially I couldn't take her voice. I have heard her sing in lower keys and I think she sounds better that way. She has a nice voice, but high notes aren't her thing. Ruthie Henshall's Fantine is startlingly beautiful. Her voice has such a unique quality I can't even name it. All I know is her "I Dreamed A Dream" is gorgeous. Michael Maguire gets picked on a lot, but I think his essence of Enjolras surpasses even Anthony Warlow. His voice grows on you. Michael Ball is the best Marius ever, 'nuff said. He uses his voice so perfectly. His ECET is haunting. Philip Quast has an icy, convincing voice but even he doesn't make me like Javert. I don't think he's misunderstood, I think he's a nut, even if Philip Quast does play him. Colm Wilkinson has a resonating, powerful vocal ability that captivates me. His Valjean is saddening yet uplifting. Lea Salonga is the definitive Eponine. Her voice is so beautiful and hre performance so stirring. I've never heard an "On My Own" like hers.
Rating: 
Summary: A definite must for any Les Mis fans...
Review: This video, also entitled "The dream cast", is definitely worth adding to one's collection. Even if some of the performances aren't up to par, it's quite simply fun to watch.
Colm Wilkinson's Jean Valjean is not as strong as it was in the days of his London and Broadway runs, but it's nevertheless nice to have his once definitive Valjean preserved on video.
Although never a fan of Philip Quast on the complete recording, visually he seems impressive. Though this is a concert staging, he adds little touches and continually acts the performance anyway, and it's to his benefit. I couldn't help but thinking as I watched that I would probably enjoy seeing him perform the role live, since he brings a definite and viable interpretation to the role, and that's only in concert!
Ruthie Henshall's Fantine is well-meaning, but she tends to sing flat during her big solo, "I Dreamed a Dream". Still, she performs admirably in the scenes of her arrest and death.
Alun Armstrong and Jenny Galloway are a delight as the Thenardiers. They're fully into their performances and seem to be having a ball!
Michael Ball is wonderful as Marius; his singing is beautiful, and the acting that he does put into the concert is lovely as well.
Lea Salonga's Eponine is one of my least favorite performances of this concert. Although her voice is fine, her over-enunciation and very bitter portrayal don't come across very well, and as a result I found myself highly disliking the character.
Judy Kuhn's Cosette is another which I don't love. The songs were transposed for her, and her voice sounds shrill.
Michael Maguire is fine as Enjolras; at times a little screechy and appearing to be a posed doll, but overall he does not offend. I've seen much worse.
The added fun of the concert, for those die-hard Les Mis fans, is seeing some of their other favorite performers in the smaller ensemble roles, such as the students who follow Enjolras.
A final treat is the "parade of Jean Valjeans" at the end.
All in all, it's a must have for many people, whether you've enjoyed the show once or many times. END
Rating:
Summary: The Best Version of the Best Musical!
Review: The was downright Incredible! Passionate, moving, beautiful and electrifying! With out a doubt the most outstanding musical out there! Colm Wilkinson is (once again) a revelation as Jean Valjean! He brings so much emotion to his role it's amazing! Bring him Home was beautiful! Javert (Phillip Quast) was also great! he has the best voice, and is an awesome actor! Stars was the best rendition i've ever heard!!! Fantine (Ruthie Henshall)is so believable as Fantine, that you actaully persume her to be the tortured prostitute. I Dreamed a Draem was exquisite!!! She has so much control over her wondrous voice! and she can give you goosebumps! Lea Salonga as the doomed gamine Eponine was brilliant! she has the most beautiful voice, and her On My Own was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO singularly sepctacular, that it's easy to see why she's the Dream Epoinie. Also she's a great actress!!!Michael Ball is an awesome Marius! he's also a reaaly great actor too! he never sounds like he's straining (take note curent Marius's) and Empty Chairs at empty Tables was Sublime! The Thenardier's (Jenny Galloway and Alun Armstrong) were (especially Jenny) hysterical! they were wonderfully cockney and fiesty! Judy Kuhn as the sweet Cosette gave a beautiful performance, in a hard mostly blank role, she gave the character quite a range and once again sounded gorgeous and has an amzing belt! Michael Maguire gave a empowered, stirring performance as the radical Enjorlas! Anthony Crivello as Grantaire was also very good. Hannah Chick (Young Cosette) and Adam Searles gave awesome junior performances! Topped off by a beautiful sounding ensemble and the one of the best orchestras, the show was a magical evening! Also get ready for some surprise specials at the end! OUTSTANDING!
Rating:
Summary: STUNNING
Review: Absolutely stunning. If you are a Les Mis fanatic, you have not lived until you see this. Watching this ultimate "dream cast" is almost as good as watching the Broadway performance. Enough praise cannot be uttered for Colm Wilkinson - he is THE Jean Valjean, and can never be upstaged. The power & expression from this man is just unbelievable. When he is enraged, you are angry. When he is upset, you feel his pain. His "Bring Him Home" literally brought tears to my eyes. The duets between JVJ and Javert (Philip Quast) were also fantastic. Quast's best moment was in "Javert's Suicide" - utter desperation was exactly what was portrayed. Ruthie Henshall (Fantine) was magnificent, her voice is beautiful. Michael Ball (Marius) was absolutely wonderful, especially in "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables". Michael Maguire (Enjolras) thoroughly impressed me by turning a smaller part into a strong and admirable role. The Thenardiers - hilarious, especialle Madame (Jenny Galloway). Young Cosette was adorable, but even moreso was Gavroche. The best part? The finale - 17 JVJ's from all over the world, led in by multicultural Gavroches, singing a line of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" in their native tongues. The amount of talent in these 17 men is just indescribable - you have to hear it. Stunning, I tell you.
Rating:
Summary: SIMPLY OUTSTANDING!
Review: Words fail me when I try to describe this video. Les Miz is a glorious play, what with the genius of Boublil & Schonberg. I didn't think I would much enjoy this video because of its lack of actual set & acting and also the few short pieces cut. But it still blew me away. Best of all was the cast. It truly was the definitive edition. Colm Wilkinson is just the perfect Valjean. His voice has such emotion & resonance to it. And he has such a strong presence as an actor. Philip Quast was another excellent performer. I've once heard his voice described as "flinty" and I think that that's a good word for it. He really portrays Javert with such coldness, he makes the character quite vivid. Ruthie Henshall's Fantine is one of those rare performances in musical theatre which simply cannot be surpassed. Henshall's voice is so stirring, heartbreaking, reverberating, deep, chilling, and beautiful. Her "I Dreamed a Dream" is excellent! Michael Ball's Marius needs to introduction. He's THE Marius, what else is there to say? His voice so, so powerful and he sings with such heart. His "Empty Chairs At Empty Tables" is truly captivating. Michael Maguire's Enjolras is often criticised. Yes, this wasn't the best performance he probably could have given and he did miss a few notes. But he still has a great voice. People argue that Anthony Warlow is a better Enjolras. While I agree that Warlow has the vocal edge, there's something in Maguire's performance that makes him so much like Enjolras and just so perfect for the part. Judy Kuhn's Cosette was the one performance which I can say is good but not great. She didn't strike me the first time I heard her, though she has grown on me. She does have a lovely voice, but I just don't go for the whole "ringing soprano" thing. In fact, almost all Cosettes & Christines and the like in general just annoy me. I think Kuhn sounded better as Pocahontas. Hannah Chick's little Cosette was SO adorable! She didn't miss a note during "Castle On A Cloud" which she just sang so sweetly. At the same time, she didn't seem to overact the sweetness, which I've seen all too many Cosettes do. And the way she kept singing after the stage light explosion was very professional. And Adam Searles, gotta Love him. Similar to Maguire, I have heard Gavroches with better voices that Searles but he just has the part of Gavroche down so well. He just has the perfect street-wise, smart-aleck attitude perfectly. I was shocked as to how many people disliked Lea Salonga's Eponine. Even more shocking was how people insisted that Frances Ruffelle was much better. I think Salonga was THE most phenomenal singer of the night. To me, Ruffelle sounds terrible! Many have called Salonga too "bitter" or "angry" but Eponine is a bitter, angry character! Salonga sings with such force, and at other times (e.g. "A Little Fall of Rain") with such sad sweetness. Her "On My Own" was so excellent that watching it is an intense experience. I could barely tear my eyes from the screen the first time I saw her sing it. I think there is no question that she's THE definitive Eponine. 'Course that's just my opinion. All in all, this was the greatest performance of Les Miz I have ever seen!
Rating:
Summary: A Dream Come True
Review: I have never seen Les Miserables before onstage but own almost every Les Mis cd and book imaginable along with alot of Les Mis movies and in my opinon this DVD is well worth it's pricetag...when I first bought I thought it was going to be the show onstage... But is simply the actors in costume onstage singing...and you occasional do see some action scences... Les Miserables fans it has all our favorites and the best of the best performers from the worldwide hit musical including Michael Ball and Colm Wilkson Les Miserables fans! Watching it is like watching absolute magic onstage... My favorite part is at the end when Jean Valjean's from across the world from Norway to the USA all sing onstage together followed by fireworks and bows...this DVD is a treasure for all Les Mis fans evrywhere!
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