Songs From Les Misérables

Songs From Les Misérables

Les Misérables, colloquially known as Les Mis, is one of the most famous and most performed musicals worldwide. It is based on the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, which follows the struggles of a cast of characters as they seek redemption and revolution in 19th century France. French composer Claude-Michel Schönberg composed the Tony Award-winning score in 1980, with a libretto by Alain Boublil. It was staged in London's West End in 1985, with English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. On October 8, 2006, the show celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary and became the longest-running West End musical in history. The show has since found further success on Broadway and in many other countries around the world.

There have been several recordings of this material, including ones by the original London cast and original Broadway cast. However, no recording contains the entire performance of songs, score and spoken parts as featured on stage; The Complete Symphonic Recording comes closest, but a pair of songs that were cut from the show following the initial London run, as well as one song only present in the Original French Concept Album, are not included.

The characters who sing solos or duets are:

• Jean Valjean, a paroled convict, prisoner 24601, and the protagonist. Failing to find work with his yellow parole note and redeemed by the Bishop of Digne's mercy, he tears his passport up and conceals his identity (under the alias "Monsieur Madeleine") in order to live his life again as an honest man. However, Javert constantly pursues him;
• Fantine, a single mother who is forced into prostitution in order to pay for her child's well-being;
• Javert, a police inspector, originally a prison-guard, who becomes obsessed with hunting down Valjean to whom he refers as "Prisoner 24601";
• Éponine, the young daughter of the sinister Thénardiers who was pampered and spoiled as a child but grows up to be ragged in Paris. She secretly loves Marius;
• Cosette, Fantine's daughter, who is abused and mistreated by the Thénardiers but whom Valjean later adopts—she soon grows into a young woman;
• Marius Pontmercy, a French student and revolutionary who falls in love with Cosette;
• Monsieur and Madame Thénardier, a crooked couple who own an inn and exploit their customers. They later become a feared band of thieves in the streets of Paris;
• Enjolras, leader of the student revolutionaries who seek to free the oppressed lower class of France;
• Gavroche, a hotheaded young boy who is adored by the people and aligns himself with their revolution—he is a true symbol of the youth and boldness of the rebellion.
• Grantaire, a revolutionary who worships Enjolras and is often drunk.