Les Miserables

[MaestroUGC]

Eh, Eponine is alright as a character. I've just never enjoy unrequited love sub-plots.

She had a great moment of catharsis, then got herself shot.

Good job, Slow, I for one adore multiple interpretations of the same worok. I have at least 4 verions of all nine of Beethoven's Symphonies, by different orchestras under different conductors. Each one offers something different and new. Did the film do everything well? No. But it did somethings better than some stage versions.

Russel Crowe isn't a great singer, let's be honest. He sings too much in his throat, but his acting sold his performance for me. Javert gets only 2 songs throughout the work, and most performers belt them out for their moment of glory. Crowe gave a more subtle performance which fit the character far better. His suicide is a great example: the man's world view has been shattered, he's trying to pick up the pieces but realizes that Valjean's genuine kindness towards him, a man who sees the world in black and white, doesn't fit that. He can't reconcile that fact and takes his own life.

It's a dark moment, full of inner turmoil; most performers miss this fact and choose it as their moment to shine. This is the difference between performer and singer. Then again, I've only seen a handful of performances, so my history with the work may be a bit skewed.

[Nebbles]

Ooh yes, my sister did the play her senior year, and wasn't pleased with the film for that reason, I guess. She saw it from a biased point of view.

[MaestroUGC]

Who did she play?

[Nebbles]

I believe she was a stage director, not an actual actor... it's been years since her high school days(she's 27 now).

[SlowPokemon]

Good job, Slow, I for one adore multiple interpretations of the same worok. I have at least 4 verions of all nine of Beethoven's Symphonies, by different orchestras under different conductors. Each one offers something different and new. Did the film do everything well? No. But it did somethings better than some stage versions.

Yeah Crowe was probably the low point of the cast as far as singing goes, especially in "Look Down," but he did better than expected.

It turns out I have a piano vocal book of the musical that my grandmother bought me a few years ago. Best present ever that I never used for years.

[Nebbles]

What. D: I want it.

[SlowPokemon]

The "highlights" soundtrack does not include "Do You Hear the People Sing?" OR "Lovely Ladies" OR "The Thénardier Waltz of Treachery." How do you leave out those key songs?!?!

[MaestroUGC]

I've not read anything about a full score being released yet, which is a shame.

[SlowPokemon]

I know! There aren't any announcements for even an extended version of the soundtrack with the vocal pieces.

There are plenty of minor pieces throughout that aren't terribly important on a highlights album, but those three, particularly "Do You Hear the People Sing?" seem like strange omissions on an album with room for more music.

[MaestroUGC]

It was probably rushed, a quick cash in on the craze.

[Nebbles]

Do You Hear The People Sing? is my favorite song, and I'm really hurt it wasn't on the album...

[Kman96]

Here's a vid of my local Youth Symphony performing a Les Misérables medley...before I even cared about the musical -.- How naive I was back then...last Spring...Guaranteed, if I'd have seen a version like the most recent movie, I would have played this piece with WAAAAY more emotion...

I'm in the back on Snare/Ride Cymbal, with my lovely assistant Mekenzie on Bass Drum, and my otha peeps in the section there: the munchkins, and then the really tall Alex. EDIT: OH, and I forgot Tim, on the TYMpani.

Most of the other group vids uploaded on that channel are of our most recent concerts! I'll probably post some more vids of our group as the season goes on.

[MaestroUGC]

See, that's why I always looked up the context of the pieces I performed back in choir. You can't fake knowing what each word meant.

[Nebbles]

....are you serious.

[K-NiGhT]

....are you serious.

yes, he's serious. and it sounds awesome.