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Post by Talissa on May 30, 2003 13:29:55 GMT 11
I've just started watching the dream cast video of Les Mis, and I was wondering what people think of it.
I've decided I'm not a Colm Wilkinson fan. The "took my flight" in the prologue decided me there. It shouldn't be screamed like that. He does have a good vocal quality for the role, and some parts are really good, but overall, I don't think he's quite right. I think I now know who influenced the Valjean in the production I saw earlier this year.
I'll let you know what I think of the rest when I get a chance to finish watching it.
~Julia
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Post by Buff on May 30, 2003 14:40:02 GMT 11
Colm is OK, nothing great but OK. I think he must be sick of doing the role. Michael Ball is a great Maruis, but Michael Maguire (I think) is one of the worst Enjolras I've heard - he can't get the upper register with out looking like he's in pain (and causing me pain  ) I really enjoyed Lea Salonga's voice, especially in "A little fall of rain". The rest of the cast are all good in my opinion. I must mention the Little Cosette in "Castle on a cloud". How she kept going despite jumping half a mile in the air when the balloon popped is amazing - a true professional Buff  |
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Post by Tinechorwen on May 30, 2003 14:48:31 GMT 11
I agree with you about Colm, I think his voice suits the role of Jean Valjean alot more than Phantom, but it still grates on my nerves. He does get over excited in some points and gets carried away with the singing.
I made the very stupid mistake of thinking the Jean Valjean on my recording was Wilkinson, however it wasn't...it was Gary Morris, their voices are very close. But after I stopped feeling stupid and realised why I liked Morris so much more. They were very similiar, although I can see the difference now, but Gary's voice wasn't as harsh as Colm's, he sang Valjean's solidiqoy with as much passion and anger, yet it was still musical rather than just dramatic.
I've heard different comments about Ruthie Henshall, sp, as Fantine, but I must say I adored her voice in that role. I thought she was perfect in the balance between a beautiful voice and the ability to act a woman who has been thrown to the bottom of society's levels.
I think we all have the same opinion of Philip Quast as Javert....he is Javert, basically. It would take a very talented singer to change my mind about that, his voice and stage presence personifies the Javert we love to hate. The only other interpretation that compares is John Malckovitch, although this was not the musical version and you could hardly compare the two as they took different interpretations of the character, Malkovitch's Javert being alot more sinister than Quasts.
I have just become the biggest Michael Ball fan, and like many of them I'm sure, it originated from Les Mis. His voice is so unique, so different that it is beautiful, I think Marius would be an easy role to pull of well, but Michael Ball's voice, for me, turns Marius from another whinning aristocratic figure to someone who I would fight both Cosette and Eponine for. I've seen/heard differing Marius', some of them good but some of them making me wonder why Cosette and Eponine are so into him.
I could comment on the other characters but I haven't seen it in awhile, and this is long enough. Looking forward to reading yours Talisaa/everyone else.
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Post by Tinechorwen on May 30, 2003 14:52:30 GMT 11
How she kept going despite jumping half a mile in the air when the balloon popped is amazing - a true professional Buff Are you serious, I haven't seen it in awhile so I must have forgotten that bit...wow. Poor kid, still I suppose if she's up there she must be amazingly talented and had a bit of stage experience. Still, would have been cute. |
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Post by Talissa on May 30, 2003 15:10:27 GMT 11
I made the very stupid mistake of thinking the Jean Valjean on my recording was Wilkinson, however it wasn't...it was Gary Morris, their voices are very close. But after I stopped feeling stupid and realised why I liked Morris so much more. They were very similiar, although I can see the difference now, but Gary's voice wasn't as harsh as Colm's, he sang Valjean's solidiqoy with as much passion and anger, yet it was still musical rather than just dramatic. I can't stand Gary Morris as Valjean. I hadn't heard Colm properly when I first heard Les Mis properly, and my friend currently has my CSR recording, so I can't compare them, but I think I may prefer Colm to Gary. It's quite a worry that I've only heard 4 Valjeans, and of them the best can't consistently hit some of the top notes (there are only two really iffy bits, luckily). This may be because I haven't listened to my CSR CD in ages (4 months!!!!), but I believe our Javert may be almost as good as Philip. I may be slightly biased, though I've heard Michael Maguire sing a little (not on the video; I'm only up to the start of IDaD), and I must say that I have no idea why he has such a large following for his Enjolras portrayal. I can name at least two people who'd be able to do twice as well. ~Julia |
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Post by Tinechorwen on May 30, 2003 15:19:58 GMT 11
I'm guessing one of those people would be Anthony Warlow, and the other...maybe the guy in your production. It's interesting you say that Talissa, I've heard some other people say they don't like Gary Morris either, but I don't mind him. He's a little bland I'll admit, and I haven't really heard that many other Jean Valjean's. I doubt your that biased, I've been in productions where I've known that our performers aren't as good as ones I've seen in other amateur productions. If he is that good, then I think you've just made me more jealous to the fact that I can't come. *Grrrr* |
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Post by Buff on May 30, 2003 16:25:50 GMT 11
I can tell you our Enjolras was heaps better than Michael Maguire!  Buff |
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Post by Talissa on Jun 5, 2003 9:29:52 GMT 11
I've watched a bit more of the video. I still don't like Colm. Philip, though, is fantastic. And seems especially so since I haven't heard him in 4 months. And I love his nonchalant adjusting of his microphone at the start of Fantine's Arrest. And he even glares at it I'm not sure what I think of Ruthie Henshall. She's good. She's very good. She's just not quite Fantine. Mind you, I'm enormously picky about my Fantines.  The little Cosette is very good. Does anyone know how old she was at the time? And I saw the balloon bit. Very good covering up, indeed. I thought Mme Thenardier's voice was slightly overdone. It's the right idea, and very much accurate to the book, but not entirely necessary. Alun Armstrong as Thenardier, though, was fantastic. ~Julia |
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Post by Talissa on Jun 5, 2003 9:36:50 GMT 11
Okay, I've changed my mind about Jenny Galloway as Mme T. Her voice is great in Master of the House. It's just the Cosette bit beforehand which I don't like. You know, I could always actually finish watching for the day before I post, but what would be the fun in that? ~Julia |
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Post by Talissa on Jun 5, 2003 9:57:12 GMT 11
The Gavroche was good, but his accent was a little too thick. If that's his real accent, though, that's fine. It just gets annoying when Gavroches put on really thick cockney accents for a French character. Michael Ball's good, but getting a little old for the character at this point, I think. And his voice was stronger than Enjolras'. Marius isn't supposed to sound stronger than Enjolras. Of course, that's largely because of Michael Maguire, who doesn't have the right strength for Enjolras. And there's something about his vocal quality I just don't like. I think it's got a bit of an American gangster quality. Not Enjolras. Can you tell I'm picky about my Enjolrati as well? It is amusing, though, seeing him stand on his toes for some of the high notes Judy Kuhn has a beautiful voice, but I don't think it's quite light enough for Cosette. It's pleasant to listen to, at least, which more than can be said for a lot of Cosettes I've heard. And Lea Salonga's voice is too light to be put with Judy's. The two would almost be able to swap parts safely. Lea does have a beautiful voice, though. ~Julia |
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Post by Tinechorwen on Jun 5, 2003 16:12:49 GMT 11
Of course, that's largely because of Michael Maguire, who doesn't have the right strength for Enjolras. I'd actually forgotten what Maguire's voice had sounded like so I was expecting something absolutely horrible, and while it's not too bad...compared to Warlow he doesn't really suit the role at all. Judy Kuhn has a beautiful voice, but I don't think it's quite light enough for Cosette. It's pleasant to listen to, at least, which more than can be said for a lot of Cosettes I've heard. I agree on this point as well, especially in the lower notes. And, try as I might, I really can't get Pocohontas out of my head while she is singing. Still, I've heard one Cosette whose voice was so incredibley sweet it was grating....not pleasant. |
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Post by Talissa on Jun 6, 2003 9:00:21 GMT 11
I think this would be as good a place as any to mention something I heard last night. We were discussing the CSR recording, and we had the usual views - can't stand Gary Morris or Tracy Shayne, Kaho Shimada has a lovely voice, but some of her words sound a little strange (although I think she did a damn good job, especially after hearing that she supposedly learnt the English part in about 10 days)...Anyway, we get to Enjolras, and one of the guys said "I don't like the Enjolras on that recording at all." The rest of us just stopped and stared at him, and told him that that's Anthony, and it turns out he likes everything else Anthony's done, just not this. I must say that's the first time I've ever seen anyone actually not like Anthony's Enjolras.
~Julia
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Post by Buff on Jun 10, 2003 12:32:11 GMT 11
On the weekend, I picked up a copy of the CSR highlights CD so I'm looking forward to listening to that for the first time! Just thought I'd share! Buff |
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Post by Talissa on Jun 10, 2003 12:55:11 GMT 11
Which recording did you have before? I thought you would have had that one. CSR is wonderful  ~Julia |
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Post by Buff on Jun 10, 2003 16:15:32 GMT 11
I've had the TAC version only. I also have the TAC on video (taped off TV). I'm slowly building up my collection of musical CD's (much to my wife's displeasure ) Buff |
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