7 Days of "Les Miserables", Day 2: The Original Broadway Cast Recording (1987)
For Day 2 of "7 Days of Les Mis", is The Original Broadway Cast Recording!
Honestly, while listening to this recording, I had a really hard time not comparing it to the Original London Cast. So, this review is going to contain a lot of comparison to the Original London Cast. If you do not like reviews that compare one thing to another, STOP READING HERE.
In her memoir, Patti LuPone stated that one reason she did not transfer to the Broadway company was because she knew it would just be a carbon copy of the London production. Patti LuPone was absolutely right. Although the only two cast members to transfer were Colm Wilkinson (Valjean) and Frances Ruffelle (Eponine), I feel like A LOT of the recording sounded extremely similar to the Original London Cast Recording.
I don't know if Colm Wilkinson wasn't totally comfortable as Jean Valjean in London or what, but in this recording, Wilkinson sounded way more powerful than he did on the London Cast Recording. Especially on the high notes. I enjoyed him way more during this recording. The other cast member who transferred (as I mentioned earlier), was Frances Rufelle who played the role of Eponine. Ruffelle's voice was even more irritating in this recording. I can't believe she actually won a Tony for doing this role on Broadway. Who let that happen?
As Javert, Terrence Maan sounds absolutely terrific. He has such a powerful and commanding voice. The "Confrontation" between Valjean and Jacert was about a hundred times more powerful than the Colm Wilkinson/Roger Allam rendition. Mann is definitely the Maan as Javert.
In this recording, the role of Fantine is played by Randy Graff. While Patti LuPone's voice has more power, Graff's voice has more emotion behind it. I think the first half of her "I Dreamed a Dream" was very weak compared to the second half of her rendition of the song. I also thought that her higher notes were a bit overdone, specifically during her death scene. Overall, she does a well job as Fantine.
In this recording, I felt like the Thenardiers were just sort of there. While Leo Burmester and Jennifer Butt did a great job in their roles, I can't think of much to say about them.
In the role of Marius, I feel like David Bryant is trying to copy Michael Ball. In my opinion, Michael Ball is a much stronger Marius than Bryant is. I feel really bad saying this, but not much really stood out about him. Same goes for Michael Maguire in the role of Enjorlas.
In the rather boring role of Cosette, Judy Kuhn has such a strong voice. This may not be Les Mis related, but she has such an AMAZING vocal range. Her vocal range is so wide, I can barely tell she's the singing voice of Pocahontas when I listen to this recording. Point is, she is extremely amazing.
SHOUT OUT TO DONNA VIVINO (Former Elphaba) WHO PLAYED YOUNG COSETTE
This being the second cast recording of "Les Miserables" in English, you can hear the show that we see today start coming together. New orchestrations here and there, new lyrics, and more. I am really glad I decided to do this series of reviews, it is really cool to here the show on it's own improve and become the version we are all most familiar with.
I personally think that the quality of this recording is better than the quality of the London Cast Recording. Like the London Cast Recording, this is a must have for any fan of "Les Miserables". I give it, for the first time in the 1 year history of this blog, 4 and a half stars.
The Original Broadway Cast of "Les Miserables"
(in order of appearance)
Jean Valjean- COLM WILKINSON
Javert- TERRENCE MAAN
Fantine- RANDY GRAFF
Young Cosette- DONNA VIVINO
Madame Thenardier- JENNIFER BUTT
Thenardier- LEO BURMESTER
Gaveroche- BRANDEN DANNER
Enjorlas- MICHAEL MAGUIRE
Marius- DAVID BRYANT
Eponine- FRANCES RUFFELLE
Cosette- JUDY KUHN
Honestly, while listening to this recording, I had a really hard time not comparing it to the Original London Cast. So, this review is going to contain a lot of comparison to the Original London Cast. If you do not like reviews that compare one thing to another, STOP READING HERE.
In her memoir, Patti LuPone stated that one reason she did not transfer to the Broadway company was because she knew it would just be a carbon copy of the London production. Patti LuPone was absolutely right. Although the only two cast members to transfer were Colm Wilkinson (Valjean) and Frances Ruffelle (Eponine), I feel like A LOT of the recording sounded extremely similar to the Original London Cast Recording.
I don't know if Colm Wilkinson wasn't totally comfortable as Jean Valjean in London or what, but in this recording, Wilkinson sounded way more powerful than he did on the London Cast Recording. Especially on the high notes. I enjoyed him way more during this recording. The other cast member who transferred (as I mentioned earlier), was Frances Rufelle who played the role of Eponine. Ruffelle's voice was even more irritating in this recording. I can't believe she actually won a Tony for doing this role on Broadway. Who let that happen?
As Javert, Terrence Maan sounds absolutely terrific. He has such a powerful and commanding voice. The "Confrontation" between Valjean and Jacert was about a hundred times more powerful than the Colm Wilkinson/Roger Allam rendition. Mann is definitely the Maan as Javert.
In this recording, the role of Fantine is played by Randy Graff. While Patti LuPone's voice has more power, Graff's voice has more emotion behind it. I think the first half of her "I Dreamed a Dream" was very weak compared to the second half of her rendition of the song. I also thought that her higher notes were a bit overdone, specifically during her death scene. Overall, she does a well job as Fantine.
 | |||
| A Les Mis Confession. (Taken from the lesmisconfessions tumblr page. Randy Graff as Fantine) |
In this recording, I felt like the Thenardiers were just sort of there. While Leo Burmester and Jennifer Butt did a great job in their roles, I can't think of much to say about them.
In the role of Marius, I feel like David Bryant is trying to copy Michael Ball. In my opinion, Michael Ball is a much stronger Marius than Bryant is. I feel really bad saying this, but not much really stood out about him. Same goes for Michael Maguire in the role of Enjorlas.
In the rather boring role of Cosette, Judy Kuhn has such a strong voice. This may not be Les Mis related, but she has such an AMAZING vocal range. Her vocal range is so wide, I can barely tell she's the singing voice of Pocahontas when I listen to this recording. Point is, she is extremely amazing.
SHOUT OUT TO DONNA VIVINO (Former Elphaba) WHO PLAYED YOUNG COSETTE
 |
| Donna Vivino (Young Cosette) |
This being the second cast recording of "Les Miserables" in English, you can hear the show that we see today start coming together. New orchestrations here and there, new lyrics, and more. I am really glad I decided to do this series of reviews, it is really cool to here the show on it's own improve and become the version we are all most familiar with.
I personally think that the quality of this recording is better than the quality of the London Cast Recording. Like the London Cast Recording, this is a must have for any fan of "Les Miserables". I give it, for the first time in the 1 year history of this blog, 4 and a half stars.
The Original Broadway Cast of "Les Miserables"
(in order of appearance)
Jean Valjean- COLM WILKINSON
Javert- TERRENCE MAAN
Fantine- RANDY GRAFF
Young Cosette- DONNA VIVINO
Madame Thenardier- JENNIFER BUTT
Thenardier- LEO BURMESTER
Gaveroche- BRANDEN DANNER
Enjorlas- MICHAEL MAGUIRE
Marius- DAVID BRYANT
Eponine- FRANCES RUFFELLE
Cosette- JUDY KUHN
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