To celebrate 10 years as the world's most popular musical, the cast of Les Misérables threw a phenomenal birthday party at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1995. A decade after Trevor Nunn directed its premiere at the Barbican Centre, and the subsequent move into what became a permanent home at the West End Palace Theatre, producer Cameron Macintosh felt the time had come for a little outing for "the miserables." Conductor David Charles Abell, having climbed out of the cluttered Palace pit, for one glorious night has the entire Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at his disposal and there are appearances from over 150 singers--birthday celebs from Les Mis stagings worldwide--who flocked to the grandiose venue. Hosts for the night are the 1995 London cast: Colm Wilkinson's Valjean has power and beauty in "Who Am I?" and "Bring Him Home," and Michael Ball is a charming Marius. Miss Saigon herself, Lea Salonga, gets the crowd-pleasing favorite "On My Own." The Albert Hall sounds filled to the brim with an appreciative audience that contributes to the festive atmosphere. The result is a real treat for fans and lovers of Boubil and Schönberg's greatest musical--this double CD is an obligatory item in every collection of Les Mis memorabilia. --Yngvil V.G.

Customer Rating:
Summary: THE BEST. PERIOD!
Comment: I absolutely love this musical more than life itself! I hope to some day fulfill my dream of seeing it on Broadway, but it would of course have to come back, but I'd settle for London or Shea's (my local theater) if it doesn't happen.
The first Les Mis song I ever heard came from this CD, "Master of House" which is one of my favorites. Alun Armstrong sings the best version of it on here. I also love Colm Wilkinson, who will always be THE original Valjean. Michael Ball and Judy Juhn do an awesome duet of "A Heart Full of Love," and he does an amazing solo of "Empty Chairs." And Lea Salonga last but not least, is great as Eponine. Her and Ball do a very uplifting, but very sad version of "A Little Fall of Rain," the second Les Mis song I ever heard, which I personally like better then either of Cosette and Marious' duets simply because it sends shivers down my spine evry time! Being in concert, I think the Chorus also sounds better.
They don't call it the Dream Cast in Concert for nothing, if you want a Les Mis CD, and you don't mind that it misses like 2 songs, buy this one!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: The Definative Les Miz Recording
Comment: It's the best around. The cast is fantastic

Vajean= Colm Wilkomson= Valjean...the end...I like his sound the best here overthe OLC and OBC recordings

Javert- Philip Quast...he is the best Javert EVER there is no comparison

Fantine- Ruthie Henshall... she is great as Fantine her version of I Dreamed A Dream is the only one that can bring me to tears

Theinadirs(sp. ck)- they're great totally disgusting

Marius- Michael Ball...he is great his Empty Chairs... is amazing

Cosette- Judy Kuhn... she has a fine voice and is a great Cosette

my favorite charactar.....
Eponine- Lea Salonga... she is Spectacular so much better than Frances Ruffele on the OLC and OBC in my opinion she makes her voice just whiny enough not over done like Ms. Ruffele she is the best 'Ponine EVER!! her version of A Litle Fall of Rain made me ball and eat comfort food for a week

Overall the best cast and recording.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Not QUITE what I hoped
Comment: I have this performance on DVD and love it, so I was excited to get it on CD to replace my (good but not as good) Original Broadway Cast CD. The cast in the 10th anniversary performance is unparalelled in my view, so no regrets there. In the CD version, though, some of the editing that was done for TV/Video is a bit annoying on CD, as are all of the (well-deserved) applause at the end of numbers and the assorted coughs, throat clears, popping balloons, etc. that are unavoidable in live performances. Those things are much more bothersome on CD than in the DVD. So I will probably keep my original Broadway Cast performance as well. If you don't have it, I'd skip this CD and buy the DVD instead. That's still the ultimate!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: TRULY A DREAM CAST FOR A GREAT MUSICAL
Comment: CANT GET ENOUGH OF ONE OF THE GREATEST MUDICALS EVER PRODUCED. ALL THE SONGS ARE PERFORMED BY THE BEST ARTIST TO HAVE APPRARED IN THIS PRODUCTION AND EACH PERFOM MAGNIFICENTLY. AND IF THIS ISNT ENOUGH BUY THE DVD PERFORMRD AT THE ROYAL PRINCE ALBERT HALL IN LONDON PERFORMED IN CORCERT STYLE.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Brilliant1
Comment: The title says it all.

This is by far the best cast, Colm Wilkinson and Philip Quast are perfect as ValJean and Javert. I bought this recording specifically for the cast having watched the original concert. If you love Les Mis, or even if you are a first timer - you should be buying this recording.

My next purchase will be the accompanying DVD!

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