Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary (2010)

A celebratory 25th anniversary concert performance of the hit musical at The O2 in London.

Director:

Nick Morris

Writers:

Alain Boublil (book), Claude-Michel Schönberg (book)

Stars:

Alfie Boe, Norm Lewis, Matt Lucas

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alfie Boe	...	Jean Valjean
Norm Lewis	...	Javert
Matt Lucas	...	Thenardier
Jenny Galloway	...	Madame Thenardier
Lea Salonga	...	Fantine
Samantha Barks	...	Eponine
Nick Jonas	...	Marius Pontmercy
Katie Hall	...	Cosette
Ramin Karimloo	...	Enjolras
Earl Carpenter	...	Bishop
Hadley Fraser	...	Grantaire
Jonathan Williams	...	Convicts 1 / Combeferre
Mike Sterling	...	Convicts 2
Tom Pearce	...	Convicts 3
Gerónimo Rauch	...	Convicts 4

Storyline

A celebratory 25th anniversary concert performance of the hit musical at The O2 in London.

---

Plot Keywords:

based on stage musical | concert version | live performance | 

---

Taglines:

The Musical Event of a Lifetime

---

Genres:

Drama | Music | Musical

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 2010 (UK)

Also Known As:

A nyomorultak - 25. évfordulós díszelőadás

Filming Locations:

The O2 Arena, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cameron Mackintosh Ltd., Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

178 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

General Lamarque was an actual general during the French Revolution and died in 1832

---

Quotes

Jean Valjean: There lived a man whose hame was Jean Valjean He stole some bread to save his sister's son. For nineteen winters served his time In sweat he washed away his crime. Years ago He broke parole and lived a life apart How could he tell Cosette and break her heart? It's for Cosette this must be faced If he is caught she is disgraced The time has come to journey on And from this day he must be gone Who am I? Who am I?
Marius Pontmercy: You're Jean Valjean.

---

Connections

Version of Tempesta su Parigi (1948)

---

Soundtracks

The Final Battle
(uncredited)
Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg
Original French lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel
English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer
Performed by Christopher Key, Ramin Karimloo, Jonathan Williams, and Killian Donnelly

User Reviews

Cause for Celebration

Les Misérables has been around for a long time, pleasing audiences around the world - its songs are recorded by an vast array of singers and its impact on audiences is justifiably powerful. Though this filming of the concert production of the musical as performed at London's O2 Arena in January 2010 is hailed as the 25th anniversary of the musical, it is too frequently forgotten that the show, based on the Victor Hugo novel, was originally written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boubil with Herbert Kretzmer and Jean-Marc Natel and produced in Paris, France in 1980 (it closed after 3 months). This English Adaptation is by Trevor Nunn and John Caird (with additional material by James Fenton) was brought to England and the world through the efforts of Cameron Mitchell in 1985.

The concert version is performed with orchestra and chorus in the top of the platforms in O2 Arena and the characters in the musical are in costume standing before microphones at the edge of the performing structure. The light crew performs spectacular effects with the enormous facilities at this 23,000 seat arena. Some action is projected on screens above the performers (the lifting of the cart by Valjean, the barricade, etc) and at other times the screens offer the audience huge close-up view of the performers. It works well under the direction of Nick Morris. The celebration of the birthday of the show is accompanied by prolonged appearances by past members of casts of the show, a light show, and much confetti and self congratulation speeches.

As for the production itself it is populate by a generally strong cast. Alfie Boe, a 37 year old British tenor who studied opera but now sings the big demanding musicals, is a very fine Jean Valjean. Norm Lewis, and American actor/baritone is one of the strongest Jauverts on record: he is a talent to watch. Lea Salonga brings years of experience to her interpretation of Fantine, Samantha Banks is a very strong Eponine, the Iranian-born Canadian musical theater singing actor Ramin Karimloo makes a striking impression in the role of Enjolras (he has been playing the role of Phantom in the 'Phantom of the Opera' in England for years), but the performance of Katie Hall as Cosette sounds strained, the Monsieur Thénardier of Matt Lucas is completely unfocused (Jenny Galloway fares better as Madame Thénardier), and it is obvious the producers elected to play to the young audience by miscasting pop star Nick Jonas as Marius: he tries very hard but is out of his league here.

In all this is an entertaining memento of a birthday celebration - heavy on audience screaming and special party effects - and rewards the creators of this lasting fine musical with due respect.

Grady Harp