Les Miserables

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• Henry J. Grimm "H. Grimm"

  March 5, 2013
  12:38 am

  289 of 299 people found the following review helpful

  
  Outstanding Concert–BD from U.K. is Region-free, January 20, 2011

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  Henry J. Grimm “H. Grimm” (USA) –
  
    

  This review is from: Les Miserables: The 25th Anniversary Concert [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

  Wow! What an outstanding concert presentation of this opera-like musical adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel “Les Miserables”, which has been a worldwide sensation for over 25 years. This 25th anniversary concert, taped on October 3, 2010 before a wildly enthusiastic audience of several thousand at the cavernous O2 Arena in London, was simply superb–the production values (state-of-the-art lighting, audio, and video), the fantastic talent assembled on the stage, including performers from several companies–all in costume–and a huge back-up chorus all contributed to an amazing performance.

  Notable among the cast were Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Lea Salonga as Fantine, Katie Hall as Cosette, and Norm Lewis as Javert. Much unfair criticism has been heaped upon pop singer Nick Jonas, who plays the part of Marius, the young student who falls in love with, and eventually marries, Cosette. While his voice is not operatic (while the other cast members have such voices), his voice is nonetheless fairly good and with his boyish good looks, he is very convincing as the young idealistic student who becomes the love interest of Cosette.

  The grand finale alone is the worth the price of the BD: members of the original cast (and other previous and current cast members) sing duets and medleys, including four different Valjeans, all incredibly awesome. Their performance of “Bring Him Home” will bring tears to your eyes.

  The Blu-ray Disc’s video and audio are both excellent–you will not be disappointed in the sharp, pristine video and the impressive, full audio. If you have a surround-sound system, you are in for a real treat.

  Also, this BD, which I ordered from Amazon.uk, is region-free: It will play flawlessly on Region A (U.S. & Canada) Blu-ray players. I live in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA–and this BD, which is not yet available on Amazon in the U.S., was a bargain, less than $23-US, including shipping.

  This BD is a keeper–you will watch it over and over again. Highly recommended!

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• K. M. Cavuoti

  March 5, 2013
  1:37 am

  117 of 124 people found the following review helpful

  
  Awesome!, February 22, 2011

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  K. M. Cavuoti –
  
    

  Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

  This review is from: Les Miserables In Concert (DVD)

  Having seen this show several times both in London and on tour in the US, it was a huge treat to be able to experience this 25th Anniversary Performance from the O2 Arena. I was fortunate enough to see it in a US theatre the one night it played a few weeks after this was recorded. This show sold out the gigantic O2 so quickly they added a second show, which also sold out. It was beamed live to theatres around the UK. And it just won “Theatre Event of the Year” in the Whatsonstage Theatregoers Choice Awards. I am delighted that they decided to make it available for Region 1. As wonderful as the 10th Anniversary show was, this is better in some ways. The lighting, the sets and projections, the lush orchestrations and the vast audience that just electrified the air add to the whole experience.
  This was an incredible group of performers that still gives me chills when I recall it. Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, is trained as as operatic tenor. He was spectacular in every way. He shows a very supple vocal range. He can hit & hold the high soft notes & belt out the big showstoppers with equal dexterity. I really do like Lea Solonga but felt she was just a little weak as Fantine. (She was killer as Eponine on the 10th.) Norm Lewis was a wonderfully wicked yet human Javert. His baritone strong & menacing & yet soft & soulful as he wrestles his conscience and loses. Katie Hall was a convincing as Cosette. Nick Jonas, in a bit of “stunt casting” that went badly awry, was Marius. It was glaringly apparent when matched with multi-award winning West End & Broadway veterans. Though he did get better. (This actually played two nights in the UK October 2-3. This is a compilation.) Canadian, Ramin Karimloo as Enjoras, the student leader, was impeccable. He has previously played this role & that of Marius. He’s starred as the Phantom in London & is now playing the role in the sequel, Love Never Dies. (He has already twice been voted “Best Actor in a Musical” & is nominated for an Olivier this year for the same role.) Matt Lucas and Jenny Galloway obviously enjoyed their time as the Thernadiers, which made them great fun to watch. The encores must be mentioned again. They were incomparable to anything I’ve every seen. If you love Les Mis, you will love this show. Don’t try to compare it with the 10th. With its rich new orchestrations, new sets, some changes in the lyrics and slight yet clarifying changes in the show, it stands alone.

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• Phillip Wells

  March 5, 2013
  1:47 am

  186 of 214 people found the following review helpful

  
  I wish they would put the 10th Anniversary Concert on Blu Ray, March 3, 2011

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  Phillip Wells (Las Vegas, NV) –
  
    

  Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

  This review is from: Les Miserables: The 25th Anniversary Concert [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

  So I am a huge fan of this show, I have multiple recordings and for years loved watching the 10th Anniversary Dream Cast concert. I was so excited when I saw this was coming on Blu Ray and I bought it without even watching any previews or reading any reviews of the actual London concert.

  Is it a good concert? Yes. The staging is impressive and the Blu Ray treatment gives you flawless video and audio quality. The performances are good but nothing like the stellar performances of the Dream Cast.

  There are a few notable exceptions, I will keep this disc and treasure it for Lea Salongas performance as Fantine. Her pristine voice and great acting ability knock her performances out of the park. A great treat to see her 15 years after the Dream Cast going from Eponine to Fantine . And speaking of the Eponine, Samantha Barks did an amazing job in that role. She was completely unknown to me before this and had huge shoes to fill in my mind and to my shock and immense pleasure she did just that. The last note in On My Own had me standing up and cheering. I won’t say she is better than Lea Salonga in that role but she absolutely holds her own.

  Nick Jonas is a complete distraction in this show. His Marius has none of the depth that previous performers have given that role. His singing skills are not up to par with the material. Being fair though he did do a DECENT job on Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, but it no way has the impact that the song normally has on me. He brings down many of rousing anthems and really keeps them from reaching the soaring heights they normally would like. One Day More is the song most affected by his lackluster performance but Red and Black and Do You Hear The People Sing are equally watered down.

  There is a saving grace on this disc and that is the finale after the show ends. They bring back the original 1985 cast for One Day More and it had me leaping out of my seat. Also the original Valjean sing Bring Him Home with his contemporary was quite stirring. Having Michael Ball on the stage reprising his role as Marius reminded me how it should have been.

  There are some things on this disc that are magical and worth owning but as a whole it was flawed in my opinion.

  So the end result is this, I will be keeping the blu ray for Lea Salonga and Samantha Banks performances however I will also be ordering the 10th Anniversary DVD which has finally been re-released after being out of print for many years.

  My wish as I said in the title of this review is that the 10th Anniversary Concert got the blu ray treatment.

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