Les Misérables in Concert

Les Mis is my favorite musical of all time, and this video shows why! The cast is incredible, the music is incredible, and that ending with 17 Jean Valjeans is absolutely breathtaking. Here are things to look out for when watching this video: - Colm Wilkinson's angry singing

• "Master of the House"

• Philip Quast's absolutely beautiful "Stars"

• "Do you hear the people sing!"

• "One Day More!"

• Michael Ball!!

• Lea Salonga!!

• The two of them singing "A Little Fall of Rain" (get tissue ready)

• The finale: 17 Jean Valjeans from 17 countries all singing the lines of "Do you hear the people sing" (both regular and Epilogue versions) in their own languages from English to Japanese to Polish.

I have very few complaints! I think if there had been a set the singing and music would have been less powerful (200 chorus singers couldn't possibly fit onto one set during One Day More, and a full orchestra wouldn't fit under the stage). Michael Maguire gets my only complaint for his singing during "The Final Battle." His voice was wrong for that part and should have sung the way Anthony Warlow had sung the same song in the Complete Symphonic Recording. Listen to both to see what I mean.

Also, Andrew Lloyd Weber did NOT write this musical. I liked Phantom of the Opera, but that's it. Haven't seen Evita yet, but it couldn't possibly beat Les Miserables. Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg wrote this and Miss Saigon. Cam Mackintosh produced Phantom, Les Mis, and Miss Saigon. Get your info straight, people.

I'm not sure what to say. This musical rocked. I usually detest musicals with a vengeance, but this is just different...since I finished watching it for the first time about a week ago, I have never stopped watching it again and again (thanks to the good old VCD, I don't need to pay any ticket fees). For some reason, I find the first 40 minutes rather slow and boring, but not enough to drag my opinion of this down. Honestly, anyone who thinks this is a stinker just doesn't understand this. It's just...brilliant.

The emotions evoked by the second act are simply overwhelming. The spirit of love and camaraderie until death are portrayed so brilliantly and effectively. Absolutely a must-see for any die-hard intellectual movie viewer.

I never thought I would like Broadway music. I was kind of iffy when I got the International Cast's Highlights for Christmas. I only listened to a few songs. Then I got interested, and saw the 10th anniversary concert on PBS. I was spellbound. Since then I have adored Broadway, but this one has always been and will always be my favorite. I am not drawn to any other musical the way I am to this story of justice, duty, love, redemption, and revolution. If you are a fan of Hugo's book, see it, if you are a fan of Broadway, see it, if you want to see a powerful story in song, see it.

Although many may pass this video by, based on the fact that it is not as visually appealing, they are missing out. The music stands alone, and is the star of this concert-version of the beloved stage musical. It is dubbed "The Dream Cast", and becomes evident why, the moment the magnificent Colm Wilkinson opens his mouth to draw us in to the emotional story. Backed by a enormous chorus, and the London Symphony orchestra; the cast artfully weaves its way through the drama of the French Revolution, and the underlying tale of pure love. Scenery and elaborate sets are not needed, as the cast flesh out their characters with wonderful facial expressions and the same costumes that are worn in the theater version. If you have not yet seen 'Les Miseables' on stage, you are indeed missing out on a wonderful theatrical experience. This video is the next closest thing to experiencing that magic firsthand. Highly recommended!

What can I say that hasn't been said already. This concert performance of Les Miserables is simply superb and one of my personal favourite performances of any musical to date. The story and characters are vivid and the music is magnificent and one of those musicals where there isn't a single bad tune, Stars, Bring Him Home, On My Own and Empty Chairs and Empty Tables always had the most impact on me.

The performance is shot excellently, and while not the most visually appealing of all Les Miserables the settings and costuming are appropriate. The orchestral playing and conducting are superb too, and the performances are faultless. Michael Maguire and Judy Kuhn mayn't be completely ideal age-wise but I can forgive that when I hear how well they act and sing.

Michael Ball's Empty Chairs and Empty Tables is heart-wrenching, Lea Salonga is a lovely Eponine(though I couldn't help thinking that Kuhn would have been better suited while Salonga sang Cosette, but it doesn't hurt the performance at all) and Alun Armstrong is perfectly cast and very funny. Colm Wilkisnon is an expressive and dynamic Valjean, complete with a very moving rendition of Bring Him Home. Phillip Quast is superb as Javert, conveying his harshness as well as making him a sympathetic figure. Stars is also a contender for the best rendition of the performance, it was very commanding and magnificently sung.

Overall, a superb Les Miserables. 10/10 Bethany Cox