Les Miserables - 25th Anniversary [DVD]

Les Miserables - 25th Anniversary [DVD]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43 in DVD
• Released on: 2010-11-29
• Rating: To Be Announced
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Miserable? No, sensationally good!!
"In the rain, the pavement shines like silver . . ." Happy Silver Anniversary, Les Mis, bounding back more colour, incisive, and moving than ever. I attended both the historic O2 live concert and in the Barbican to see the too-short-lived 25th Anniversary Touring Production. [So perhaps I may commend the work of 3 people in the Barbican - John Owen Jones (Jean Valjean), James Earl Carpenter (Javert) and Gareth Gates (a fine Marius).]

Many other reviewers have praised the O2 cast, which included the returning 1985 cast. So let me emphasise the other glories of this production. Matt Kinley's breathtaking design loses the revolving stage, and references the art of novelist Victor Hugo (didn't know he was painterly? Neither did I.). Strong echoes, also, of misty Turner and Delacroix - all moody revolutionary tableaux, dramatically spotlit (Paule Constable, lighting). Factories, churches, windows, marvellous back-projections. And a STUNNING "coup-de-theatre" for Javert's ending.

Musically, the new orchestrations, by Chris Jahnke, Stephen Metcalfe & Stephen Brooker, add colour, depth, intensity and subtlety. They bring out the cleverness as well as lyricism of the score. And the new orchestrations fully support the lyrics, e.g., "With their voices soft as thunder" followed by an ominous, barely perceptible rolling drum (yup, thunder alright . . .) that chills you.

The singing and acting at the O2 was top-notch. Alfie Boe's operatic voice goes effortlessly to the centre of all the "money" notes, perhaps therefore not as intense as the musical-theatre singers, but with undeniable warmth. And his "Bring Me Home" was perfect. The ageless Jenny Galloway rolled back the years as Madame T., ("or I'll forget to be nice!"); Matt Lucas was in superb acting and revelatory vocal form as Thenardier.

Oh, it goes on. A life-changing, historic concert. Immediate addition to your Christmas list, everyone! (and apparently Cameron M is planning a film version. To be continued, then.)

One last word. Whatever dark and depressing aspects this work may have, whatever self-indulgence, I personally feel its abiding success is because it is all about LOVE ("How can I live when we are parted?" "Still I say, there's a way for us", etc.). Au revoir, mes amis.

Breathtaking
My daughter and I couldn't afford to go to the O2 arena but saw the concert through the satellite link at our local Vue cinema. It was a fabulous evening - dolby stereo sound, what looked like an HD picture and close ups of all the singers at they were performing. We didn't have the same atmosphere as the O2 I suppose but we applauded and cheered along with the O2 crowd and had a wonderful time. If the DVD is the same footage that we saw on the cinema screen it has to be an absolute must buy for fans. We believe we had the best view of the night - it was like being on stage with the singers, we could see everything. Alfie Boe was a revelation as Jean Valjean and deservedly received a standing ovation when he sang 'Bring Him Home'. It was a little strange seeing Lea Salonga as Fantine - brilliant singing as ever - but to me she will always be Kim from Miss Saigon and Eponine from the 10 yr anniversary performance. Ramin Karimloo as Enjolras was, we think, the best singer we have ever heard in this part, powerful voice and very expressive face. Norm Lewis as Javert, not quite Philip Quast but a fine voice. We knew we had seen Samantha Barks somewhere - she was singing Eponine's part - but we couldn't place her and then it came to us - she was in the competition for the part of Nancy on the TV reality show, "I'd Do Anything'. What a find! She was excellent. Matt Lucas as Thenardier was just superb and completely surprised me as I only knew him from Little Britain. He sang with Jenny Galloway as Madame T and they were the most awful, funny couple. They really did lift the solemnity of the show. Marius (Nick Jonas) - hmmm - have to agree that he was the one, slight weak link - all the people around us agreed but saying that, he did a credible job of 'Empty Chairs'. Don't get me wrong, he was not awful and someone said he is only 18 or so, and if that is the case, he did extremely well and I am sure his voice will get stronger if he continues in musical theatre. Or perhaps he was very good but the quality of the other singers on the night simply left him trailing a little, maybe his young fans will buy this DVD because he is in it and discover there is more to music than pop!

The finale was the original 1985 cast on stage, Colm Wilkinson, Michael Ball etc. What a night and what a stunning show, the best £15 for a ticket for 2½/3 hours entertainment that I have ever spent. This DVD is already on my Christmas wish list if I can wait that long....

Truly Amazing
Lost count of the number of times we have seen Les Mis in both Manchester and London (well into double figures), but this was something else at the O2 on Sunday evening. Emotional, breathtaking, exciting and memorable to say the least. Must commend Alfie Boes on his performance, his rendition of "Bring Him Home" was especially amazing and if the spotlight had not been switched off him after a minute or so, his standing ovation would have gone on for the rest of the evening!!All the artistes were outstanding, and the finale when previous cast members joined the show is something that all Les Mis fans will remember forever. Still getting goose bumps now thinking about it! However, we were sorry that Philip Quast was missing from the celebrations because in our opinion, as far as Javert is concerned he is "The Governor".

Congratulations to everyone involved in Sundays performance. You all made many thousands of people very happy. We have ordered the DVD and look forward to "re-living the moment".

2012 [DVD] [2009]

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [2009]

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince [DVD] [2009]

Michael McIntyre Live 2009 [DVD]

17 Again [DVD] [2009]

Up (1 Disc) [DVD] [2009]

The Hangover [DVD] [2009]

Inglourious Basterds [DVD] [2009]

The Notebook [DVD] [2004]

Slumdog Millionaire [DVD] [2008]

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (1-Disc) [DVD] [2009]

He's Just Not That Into You [DVD] [2009]

Confessions of a Shopaholic [DVD] [2009]

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs [DVD] [2009]

Twilight - 1 Disc Edition [DVD] [2008]

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas [DVD] [2008]

The Time Traveler's Wife [DVD] [2009]

Planet Earth : Complete BBC Series (5 Disc Box Set) [2006] [DVD]

The Reader [DVD] [2008]

Marley & Me [DVD] [2008]

Angels and Demons [DVD] [2009]

Star Trek XI (1-Disc Edition) [DVD] [2009]

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa [DVD] [2008]

The Proposal [DVD] [2009]

Bedtime Stories [DVD] [2008]

District 9 [DVD] [2009]

G-Force [DVD] [2009]

The Jungle Book : 40th Anniversary 2 Disc Special Edition [1967] [DVD] [1968]

My Sister's Keeper [DVD] [2009]

Night At The Museum 2: Battle Of The Smithsonian [DVD] [2009]

Twilight - 2 Disc Special Edition [DVD] [2008]

Gran Torino [DVD] [2008]

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button [DVD] [2008]