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olly

French Concept Version

Hi,
In the last month, I bought the "French Concept Album" off Amazon. I found that many of the songs are not on there, when I say many I mean over half. Also, many of the songs on the French Album I have no idea what they are... There is no Stars, Confrontaion, Who Am I, Prologue, Javert's Suicide, Empty Chairs, and many, many more. Why is this? Is it because the English (Western) adaption is totally different to the Original French? Or something else?
Any help much appreciated. Thanks
Olly
Kragey

The French Concept Album is just that: a concept. It was a set of ideas for the musical to come and, as it follows with most concept albums, some ideas were used and others were tossed out.
Fantine

The OFC is the original score for Les Mis�rables. It's not 'missing' songs, but songs were added for the English production.

That's all I'm going to say about it.
No energy.
Lesmiserables24601

OOOOh

I have always believed and will always believe the French Concept is the best recording. I really like how rather than the intense plot development and at times overdevelopment of Jean Valjean and Marius, Fantine, and especially Cosette actually have a part to play in the development of the messages of the piece. Even through all that, the best part about the cd is how amazingly hot the cosette sounds. Very Happy No seriously, I think the mood is captured in this recording much more so than the OLC,TAC, or the CSR.
If your really troubled by the recording list, I have translated most of the cd lyrics, and can pm them to you if you like.
Moci

Re: French Concept Version

olly wrote:
There is no Javert's Suicide,


Disc 2, Track 12, 'Noir et Blanc'

You can find translations here, if you'd like to find out what is being said.

You asked why it bears little resemblance in places to the stage show in it's current incarnation? As Kraget said, it's a 'Concept' album. It was made by B&S, put on stage at the Palais de Sports and then some time later, the album was heard by Cameron Mackintosh who proceeded with an English-language version. However, it was decided that the Concept Album wasn't quite suitable, Trevor Nunn says:

"The original record, had the slightly deceptive excitement of a very vigorous opening, the factory song, immediately followed by a song entitled 'La Mis�re' which was the leitmotiv of the entire show, and this was followed, very soon afterwards, by the song that eventually became 'I Dreamed A Dream'. It all seemed very dramatic and invigotating, but it became repetative and disappointing- very French in a pejorative way."

It was eventually decided, that if it was to be produced, it would need to be more or less completely re-written and re-worked.
olly

Quote:

Disc 2, Track 12, 'Noir et Blanc'

You can find translations here, if you'd like to find out what is being said.

You asked why it bears little resemblance in places to the stage show in it's current incarnation? As Kraget said, it's a 'Concept' album. It was made by B&S, put on stage at the Palais de Sports and then some time later, the album was heard by Cameron Mackintosh who proceeded with an English-language version. However, it was decided that the Concept Album wasn't quite suitable, Trevor Nunn says:

"The original record, had the slightly deceptive excitement of a very vigorous opening, the factory song, immediately followed by a song entitled 'La Mis�re' which was the leitmotiv of the entire show, and this was followed, very soon afterwards, by the song that eventually became 'I Dreamed A Dream'. It all seemed very dramatic and invigotating, but it became repetative and disappointing- very French in a pejorative way."

It was eventually decided, that if it was to be produced, it would need to be more or less completely re-written and re-worked.


Thanks! that was great! Javert's Suicide is a great song, and I was slightly surprised at having thought that it wasn't there, but now I am not. Thanks
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