Les Miserables Musical Lyrics

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Les Miserables Lyrics

The idea to create the musical, which is based on Victor Hugo's novel, came to Alain Boublil, a French lyricist, during a performance of "Oliver!" in London. He shared the idea with French composer Claude-Michel Schönberg, and together they developed the preliminary scenario. They analyzed the physical and emotional condition of each character and the public's reaction to them. Schönberg began to compose the music, and Boublil worked on the lyrics. Two years later, they made a trial two-hour recording, with Schönberg singing all the roles and accompanying himself on the piano.

The album with this material was recorded in 1980, featuring singers such as Maurice Barrier, Jacques Mercier, Rose Laurens, Yvan Dautin, Marie-France Roussel, Richard Dewitte, Fabienne Guyon, Michel Dufour, Michel Sardou, Françoise Bernard, and others. The stage version premiered in Paris in 1980, directed by Robert Hossein. Over 100 performances, the show attracted more than 500,000 attendees. Most of the cast remained the same as on the album.

The English libretto, written by Herbert Kretzmer and James Fenton, was significantly revised and expanded. They departed from a literal translation of the French original, adding a prologue detailing Jean Valjean's background. The original English version premiered five years after the French debut, in London. The show was conducted under the musical direction of John Cameron, who had contributed to the orchestrations for the French concept album. The roles were played by Colm Wilkinson, Roger Allam, Keith Michell, Patti LuPone, Zoe Hart, Jennifer O'Mahony, David Akers, Gillian Brander, and John Caton.

On January 5, 2010, "Les Misérables" celebrated its 10,000th performance. The Broadway premiere opened on March 12, 1987. The audience had pre-booked tickets totaling over $4 million. The performance has undergone some changes, including improved lighting effects for Javert's suicide scene. The show closed in 2008 but returned in 2014.
Since then, "Les Misérables" has continued to enchant audiences throughout the world. The musical's 2019 revival in London included new staging and projections that improved the visual storytelling. Furthermore, the 2012 film adaptation introduced the musical to a larger audience, gaining seven Academy Award nominations and winning three, including Best Supporting Actress for Anne Hathaway. The show recently marked its 35th anniversary with special performances and celebrations, reinforcing its legacy as one of the most beloved musicals of all time. The production has also adapted to modern times by streaming select performances online, ensuring that even during difficult times, the spirit of "Les Misérables" lives on.

Release date: 1987
Last Update:August, 06th 2024

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