Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Journ�e Est Finie
2. 'Air de la Mis�re
3. Beaux Cheveux Que Voil�
4. J'Avais R�v� d'une Autre Vie
5. Dites-Moi Ce Qui Se Passe
6. Fantine et Monsieur Madeleine
7. Mon Prince Est en Chemin
8. Mam'zelle Crapaud
9. Devise du Cabaretier
10. Valjean Chez les Th�nardier
11. Valse de la Fourberie
12. Donnez, Donnez
13. Rouge et Noir
14. Amis de l'ABC

Disc 2:

1. Volont� du Peuple
2. Cosette: Dans la Vie
3. Marius: Dans la Vie
4. Voil� le Soir Qui Tombe
5. Coeur au Bonheur (Cosette et Marius)
6. 'Un Vers l'Autre
7. Faute � Voltaire
8. Nuit de l'Angoisse
9. Demain
10. Ce N'Est Rien
11. 'Aube du 6 Juin
12. Noir ou Blanc
13. Mort de Gavroche
14. Marius et Monsieur Gillenormand
15. Mariage, "Soyez Heureux"
16. 'Aveu de Jean Valjean
17. Marchandage et R�v�lation
18. Epilogue: La Lumi�re

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #90827 in Music
• Released on: 1991-07-01
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Soundtrack

Customer Reviews

If you're loyal to Les Miserables, better own this one!
This is the one that got the whole thing started!

For all the loyal fans of Les Miserables, this is a must own. Even if you do not speak French, this album is a real jewel. I found that, as I suspected, the French version's songs are much nicer, more natural, and have better rhymes. Among my favorites: La Journée Est Finie (At the end of the day), J'Avais Rêvé d'Une Autre Vie (I dreamed a dream), Mon Prince Est en Chemin (Castle in the cloud), La Devise du Cabaretier (Master of the House), Le Coeur au Bonheur (A heart full of love) to mention just a few.

This recording became the first version of the stage show in Paris in 1978, long before Schonberg (music) and Boublil (lyrics) ever imagined that a French musical could be adapted for the English speaking world, to later become a multinational, multi-language phenomenon. For obvious reasons, in order to adapt it for the English play, the original concept had to be modified . Segments and songs were added to familiarize the English speaking public with a novel that is standard reading in any French school, and considered by many as the second most read book in history (after the Bible).

The work is faithful to Hugo's novel which was first published in France and Belgium in 1862. Although the novel is very lengthy and rich in infinitesimal details, the main plot around Fantine, Cosette, Valjean, Marius, Javert and others remains truly genuine; unlike the English version, this one does not have the climatic ending.

For a complete history of the making and evolution of Les Miserables from the time of Victor Hugo to the Broadway musical, I recommend "The Complete Book of Les Miserables" by Edward Behr,

The black and white picture on the cover of this CD depicting Cosette is a copy of an original illustration by Emile Bayard (1837-1891) who was Victor Hugo's favorite illustrator. That drawing would later be used for the universally celebrated picture of Cosette which became the musical's logo. Additionally, condensed french language lyrics are included.

The original work in French remains the forerunner of any other versions. As Boublil noted on the back cover of this CD: "..before London, before Broadway, before the Tony Awards and the Grammys 1987,...there was this album."

Fans owe themselves this recording!
I only know a handful of words in French. However, this does not stop me from knowing a great recording when I hear it. And this is a great recording.

For me, the highlights of this 2-disc Boublil & Schönberg masterwork are "L'Air De La Misère," "J'avais Rêvé D'Une Autre Vie," "A La Volonté du Peuple," "L'Un Vers L'Autre," and "La Faute A Voltaire." "L'Air..." was sung beautifully by Fantine here, though it would go on to be the intimately familiar "On My Own" in the English version, sung by Éponine. Fantine got to keep "J'avais Rêvé..." as "I Dreamed A Dream," though it also contains a snippet that would be used as the basis for "Lovely Ladies." In my opinion, "A La Volonté du Peuple" will never be eclipsed by its English counterpart "Do You Hear the People Sing?", much as I love the latter. "La Faute A Voltaire" was based on poetry by Victor Hugo, and the main theme will run under "Little People" in the show.

It's a fundamentally different piece than the Cameron Mackintosh production, but I think it is also an absolutely perfect complement to the various recordings of the stage version. The orchestrations are interesting, as there is no readily apparent synthesizer (and the stage versions would use them heavily). As a whole, it perfectly preserves the spirit of Victor Hugo's massive novel.

Highest honor in this album goes to Rose Laurens as Fantine, with close seconds going to Michel Sardou for Enjolras and Marie (this is the only name the notes give) as Éponine. Jacques Mercier is a very cool Javert, particularly in "Dites-moi Ce Qui Se Passe," proving he has a great edge in his acting. Maurice Barrier is a slightly weak Valjean, though, and Richard Dewitte is a decent Marius. And last but not least, Yvan Dautin seems to lack the slimy persona that the later Thenardiers would seem to possess naturally.

In any case, it's a great Les Miz album. If you're a fan, you owe it to yourself to get a copy and hear how it was originally intended.

Victor Hugo's Novel Comes To Life(Forget the US/UK)
The first time I heard "Les Mis" was on the original B'way cast recording. I loved it. I wanted to know the story,so I read Hugo's novel(I've read it 5 times and counting). Then I bought the complete symphonic recording. I wanted to hear the orignial version of the show...wow. These are Hugo's characters..in their native language. Moving,dark..and less Broadway-ish. The B'Way/English version has one major error. It's missing the MAIN theme "The Air of Misery"("L'Air de La Misere"). This music is everywhere in the show,including an apperance with new lyrics.."On My Own". This Fantine is the best,along with my favorite character,Eponine.

I LOVE her song "L'Un Vers L'Autre". For me,THIS is the only opera of Hugo's wonderful book! I'm a trained classical singer,this is the best version musically.