Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
The musical Les Misérables is the stage adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name. The musical was initially written in French and first performed in 1980. After a short performance in Paris, Cameron Mackintosh produced an English-language version for British audiences. The DVD edition we have in our library is a copy of the recording on October 8th, 1995, the 10th anniversary of the musical Les Mis at Royal Albert Hall.
The story takes place in France in the early 19th century, about a French peasant’s desire for redemption. Jean Valjean was in jail for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread and was released in 1815. Inspired by the Bishop, Valjean decided to break his parole and start his new life; however, a policeman named Javert refused to let him escape from justice but continued to hunt him for years. To avoid the wrath of Javert, Valjean found him in Paris on the eve of the 1832 Paris Uprising.
The release of the musical Les Misérables was overwhelmed by positive and negative comments, and some condemned the decision to convert classic literature into the musical. Nevertheless, the song “Do You Hear The People Sing?” is still on my playlist, and I will never forget the feeling when I first heard it.
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
At the end of the day, as I leave my shift and head off back to my dorm, I’m on my own. By myself, I have time to decompress and utilize that time to think about everything that is happening in my life. Most days, my thoughts are filled with happiness and satisfaction with the day’s events. Other days, my thoughts are foggy, due to the fatigue caused by the emotionally and mentally draining events of the day. Turning right outside of the Modlin Center for the Arts, I traverse back to my castle on the cloud, Lora Robins court. Once I arrive, I slump into my bed as I dream a dream.
As if it was not evident enough, certain phrases such as “on my own,” “in my life,” “turning,” “castle on the cloud,” and “I dream (ed) a dream” all contain one commonality; they are all wonderful masterpieces in the Broadway musical, Les Miserables. So, it is no question to assume that I was absolutely awestruck when I saw the Les Miserables piano/vocal score on the shelf. After years of looking, I had finally found the book that I had searched for all this time.
What makes this specific piece of music so compelling and important to me?
Les Miserables opened me to the world of theatre, Broadway, piano, and French history. To begin, the movie for the beloved musical reached theaters on Christmas day in 2012. Never taking any attention to the 10th or 25th anniversary performances, I never thought of myself to have any interest in theatre or music itself. It seemed to almost take away from the plot and add nonsense that could stated simply through plain dialogue. It was not until 2017 where I finally gave it a chance. On a rainy day one summer afternoon, I sifted through DVDs in my parents’ movie collection, seeing the one movie I vowed I wouldn’t watch. After all these years, I could have been missing out on an absolute gem. With this in mind, I inserted the disc into my computer and watched the 2012 movie. The movie blew me away. Yes, some of the most popular actors at the time were featured in the movie, but that was not the one thing that captivated me. What made me so in love with the movie was the music. The combination of fast and slow songs, heartfelt and fierce songs, and the melodies were breathtaking. Additionally, the strings and the complexity of the orchestral score made the songs stand out even more.
It was simply beautiful. Every song had been sung with heart and every instrument combined with the rest to create a full orchestra unlike any other. With this in my mind, I went straight to youtube to find the 25th anniversary concert. Seeing the full choir in the back of the stage and the giant pit in front of the actors shocked me. I never really thought of musicals and concerts to have such grand setups and stages. So, completely awestruck of what was in front of me, I took to find other Broadway musicals that had music just like Les Miserables. Although there are none that compare exactly to it, I fell in love with everything Broadway. It even prompted me to join my school musical and do something that years prior I thought was not interesting.
Now Les Miserables still touches me. On top of everything mentioned, it is what made me want to learn piano. The music was so beautiful that I knew that I wanted more of an experience with the pieces. I did not just want to sing the songs or listen to them through my headphones; I wanted to play them. So, after finding the sheet music at the library here at the University of Richmond, I took to the practice rooms and began to teach myself the piano. The very first song I learned was “Stars.” A simpler yet more heartfelt song, this song was one of the ones that made me so obsessed with the musical. Because of the impact Les Mis had on my life, it was a no-brainer to choose it, filled with drama surrounding love and revolution, with characters experiencing danger and confrontation at every corner.
Editor’s Note:“Spider Sounds” invites members of the University of Richmond community to share their thoughts about CDs (or other items in the Parsons Music Library’s collection). The links included will take you to the library catalog record for the item in question, or to additional relevant information. Today’s installment of “Spider Sounds” is by Rebecca, one of our student workers, and features the original Broadway cast recording of the acclaimed musical Les Misérables. Thanks, Rebecca!
In the thirty years following its English-language debut, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s musical Les Misérables has rightly earned its status one of the world’s most beloved Broadway shows. Adapted from Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel of the same name, Les Misérables appeals to bookworms, history buffs, and music lovers alike. The musical tells the story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict whose journey from Prisoner Number 24601 to upstanding citizen and finally fugitive on the run from a relentless police inspector tragically intersects with the unfolding of the fateful June Rebellion in Paris.
This original Broadway cast recording brings to life all of the stunning lyricism and vitality of the stage production. The heartbreakingly melodic vocal themes and nearly seamless musical accompaniment weave the listener into the gritty realities of life in Orléanist France, and are well worth revisiting for those already familiar with the show.
Catch the revolutionary spirit this spring by listening to the original Broadway cast recording of Boublil and Schönberg’s Les Misérables!
