Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| bigR |
les mis in rotterdamwell, this is mainly for Fantine but if there is anyone else able to help, you are all welcome...I've been checking the web site http://www.les-miserables.nl/ It's quite good and has a lot of information, pics, everything. Unfortunatly I don't understand a single word of dutch 
Do they say somewhere until when it is running? I know it starts by the end of april but, for how many months? I have a close friend living in Der Haag and if she lets me squat at hers, I'm definitely looking for a plane ticket in easyjet. they are SO cheap when purchased in advance... one more thing! I've read this version will have the revival new orchestrations, but, do you know if they will have the same cuts? I don't have many hopes but I wish they will have the longer version... |
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| Fantine |
That is quite a crappy website actually.
From what I can see from TopTicketLine, they are booking until August 31. (Premiere is on April 20th). It will have the revival orchestrations, so I guess that means that it will have the cuts too. And maybe the new dresses for Cosette and that kind of stuff. I think that Joop van den Ende would like these changes because it is the second time that Les Mis plays here so he'll be hoping to attract more people. |
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| Quique |
You have my deepest sympathies. |
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| mastachen |
At least the new Cosette dresses are pretty. lol | ||||||
| lesmisloony |
I dunno, Megan McGinnis said they stopped making the new Cosette dresses for Broadway Cosettes after Ali left because it was too expensive or something... 
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| Quique |
Damn, they really were penny-pinching, weren't they? lol.
You'd think they'd have a bit to spare for additional Cosette dresses with the money they saved replacing the orchestra with a high school band. |
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| Fantine |
Is it really that bad?
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| Quique |
To me it is.
Others don't seem to mind it much, which mystifies me. Here you can hear the newly orchestrated overture from the revival, as well as other bits. Sounds like there are like, 2 people in the pit. http://youtube.com/watch?v=Gjmkkf5kKi0 |
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| Timmy_Wishes he was Quast |
*small piece of sick rises in his throat* THEY ARE NOT ORCHESTRATIONS...that sounds like some tramp sat outside the theatre and played the show through his fingerless gloves.
It disgusts me that Cammack got away with that!!! |
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| bigR |
What the hell WAS that?? I just hope they don't change it everywhere!! (please, please, please, don't touch london, pleeaaaase) |
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| Fantine |
*Raises eyebrows* Oh my God... If we're getting these orchestrations, I'm gonna cry. For serious.... |
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| lesmisloony |
Hahaha... check out the lack of strings in this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYFUvE07RJs That and the overture were the only part where the revival orchestrations made me twitch and fall to the ground. Crying. (Also... I posted this while in class, so I haven't actually listened to the clip... if that's from a London production with the original orchestrations, I'll be back after the class ends to post a better link. Or you can just find Valjean's Soliloquy or Javert's Suicide from the revival and bask in the horror of the lack of strings...) 
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| mastachen |
Except for the overture, Javert's Suicide, Valjean's Soliloquy, and One Day More, I really didn't have a problem with the orchestrations. lol | ||||||
| kozafluitmusique |
I'm not sure if I'm going to see this. i really want to. | ||||||
| bigR |
The casting does not look bad at all! (+ cute!valjean)
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=VQaTzMQlCr8 |
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| Fantine |
Did you see that Enjolras costume? I want!
Our Enjolras is really sexy too... Not blonde though. But sexy. 
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| Quique |
I really like your Enjolras. Great voice. | ||||||
| Fantine |
I'm pretty exited 
This is an allstar cast. |
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| bigR |
Who's enjolras? (pic or link?) he did not sing or talk in that video, didn't he? I think the actor talking by the enjy waiscoat was the one playing Valjean. | ||||||
| Fantine |
There is a link there to the Uitmarkt preview. Click that 
EDIT: Here it is. 'Mijn Droom' and 'Nog Een Dag': http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=JIdEkUM2gDI&feature=related *Get's all exited and falls in love with Nurlaila* *Decides that she definitely has to go to the stage door (which is a quite uncommon thing to do here).* |
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| bigR |
WOW! What an amazing cast... and the video was posted in august, so they probably had not even started rehearsals!
I'm SO going to rotterdam! |
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| bigR |
I've got my tickets!
I just hope they will really arrive since i had some problems with the delivery address. now I won't be able to sleep for a week. I wanted to go as soon as possible, but my friends only could come if it was a weekend and the good tickets were already sold out until the end of july! Even weekday tickets are already exhausted for april and most of mai. So, i am going the 1st of august, which works fine for me, but if I had waited a little bit more I don't know if I would have found tickets! |
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| Fantine |
Wow.
I know that row 1-7 are being used for the Orchestra Pit, so maybe this means that we get a big orchestra? *hopeful* |
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| bigR |
Really? I didn't know that and I have row 8!
does it mean it is first row? i don't know if I like or dislike the idea... let's hope you get the big orchestra and the uncut version! |
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| Fantine |
I think it's the second row. With 1-7 I meant 1 till 7. So row 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 technically do not exist because that's the orchestra pit. | ||||||
| bigR |
no bad either! neither me or my friends are very tall!
do you have tickets already? |
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| Fantine |
I have my tickets since November
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| Hankster |
I'm totally convinced that most of the new Dutch castmembers will make an awesome performance. Especially Ren� van Kooten as Jean Valjean, Wim van den Driessche as Javert and Freek Bartels as Enjolras will be pretty amazing I think, and good replacements for Henk Poort, Ernst-Dani�l Smit and Bill van Dijk who played these roles in the original Dutch version of 1991. Only Jamai Loman as Marius may not be the best choice, imo...
Either way, I'm there at the 16th of May And hopefully there aren't understudies for the roles of Jean Valjean, Javert and Enjolras that night
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| kozafluitmusique |
Anyone know how to buy tickets?
because although this would be in Dutch...I'm interested. |
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| bigR |
This is the official site:
http://www.les-miserables.nl/ There is a link to the online ticket selling office. Only problem they don't seem to let you just book and they don't sell e-tickets (or maybe they do but I wasn't able to find where). You have to buy the tickets on line and they send them to you by the post, but ONLY if you have an address in The Netherlands. I managed to buy tickets from madrid because I have a couple of friends there and I gave their address, but I don't know if there is another way to buy them from abroad. (or maybe you are dutch? I assumed from your post you weren't but maybe I'm wrong...) |
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| Hankster |
No, THIS is the official site! http://www.musicals.nl/jetp/misc/1857.htm
the other one is clearly a fanpage. |
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| bigR |
glups! my mistake.
well, even if it is not official they got the link for the tickets office... |
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| milamber_alw |
bigR: I would recommend buying tickets directly from New Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam (the only small problem is that it is in dutch):
here - click on "Kaarten" to select proper day. This way you can buy them online and they will send you tickets by post (works for other countries too - I'm from the Czech Republic and I got the tickets within 2 weeks after the payment). Or you can call directly to the box office: +31 10 484 33 33 and they will make you a reservation on your name. You have to pick up the tickets at least one hour before the performance. AFAIK they did not accept credit cards at the box office, so I had to pay cash. |
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| bigR |
Thanks a lot! I got my tickets some time ago, though, I guess your post was actually meant to be addressed to kozafluitmusique . |
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| milamber_alw |
BigR: I'm sorry, you're right, it should be for kozafluitmusique 
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| stargirl |
i'm so excited! my husband got tickets for us this week after seeing a commercial on dutch tv for it.
i've seen les miserables 3 or 4 times, first in london in 1988, and then in dallas, tx. i just moved to the netherlands about 3 weeks ago so i was pleasantly surprised to see that my favorite musical is playing here now! i saw it in dallas last year on the final tour, i thought i'd never get to see it again. and it will be quite interesting to see it in dutch, as i am still learning how to speak dutch. we're going in june and have 3rd row seats, in the center...i've never seen it so close! i hope it's as good as i've seen before. i'm looking forward to doing some sight seeing in rotterdam too, and the luxor sounds like it's a nice place from what i've seen in photos online. |
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| bigR |
I'm totally excited about it aswell...
Actually I am going to london next week to see the show after more than 10 years and to rotterdam in august and i am more excited about rotterdam even if I don't speak a word of dutch. The cast seems really great and since in rotterdam it will be a new show as oposed to the 22 years run of london I feel that it is going to be more passionate and alive and will have more strenght. We'll see. does any one know already if it will have the cuts or not? big/small orchestra? old/new orchestrations? Fantine, when are you going? |
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| Fantine |
I'm going the 27th of May.
My boyfriend ordered those tickets (for my birthday) in November and back then these were this was the first date that the (in general) best seats were free. I really hope that it's going to last a bit longer than August. |
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| kozafluitmusique |
Have fun enjoying seeing it ... I still need to talk to my parents about it. | ||||||
| jqpopcorn |
New Orchestrations!! But much improved since Broadway
Yes cuts...... 18 piece orchestra...so bigger than NY! i was astounded when i heard that youtube clip of broadway.... we sound SOOO much bigger than that. No wonder you are all scared for the new orchestrations... but the new ones work well i think. Grtz! |
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| Quique |
Orchestra size isn't really the issue for me when it comes to what they've done to Les Mis. It's ditching John Cameron's brilliant original orchestrations for the ones by Chris Junk, or whatever his name is. | ||||||
| jqpopcorn |
Well it's been interesting in this current dutch production, to see how the orchestrations have evolved, especially since NY. Now it's a definitive Re-Re orchestration (not everything, just a few places) We were working with the new orchestrator and the composer and Macintosh during the rehearsal period. I also am a huge fan of the original orchestration, having played that as well, and knowing the CSR very well as well, i had my doubts about the new orchestrations.
Esp since we were losing the bass guitar and the guitar from the orchestra. Where a lot of the drive comes from. There were alot of times in my part where we did actually revert back to the original lines. And some instrumentation was changed completely. Please don't judge the new orchestrations on that Youtube clip.....i heard it and was apalled...we don't sound anything like that. We are an orchestra of 18 but at times with some very good keyboard patches, you'd think there were 40 people in the pit. It does give the show a more fresh vibrant feel. Give it a chance though. I know how you might feel....i too had my doubts. But you get used to it very fast, and somethings sound amazing. Of course there are always things you miss.....but with a re orchestration...what do you expect
Grtz! |
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| Quique |
They shouldn't have changed orchestrations so well known for over 20 years. They obviously did it to camouflage the fact they downsized the orchestra and thus cut costs (on Broadway, at least).
I'll keep an open mind. Maybe it is better. I should hear the current Dutch production before I judge.
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| jqpopcorn |
Re orchestration doesn't always mean downsize. In London the current orchestra is 11 people, with a lot of music on computer program. The original Broadway orchestra was around 23. London will continue to perform the original version because they haven't the space in the pit for the extra musicians needed for the new orchestration.
And in Holland we have a larger orchestra than they did on Broadway. We have 18 musicians, and NY they used 14. We have a lot more strings.... I think the change wasn't just about budgets either...although money is never to far down the list. The impression i got from those high up in the production, was it was more to freshen it up a bit, Make it more vibrant and tight. They of course cut a few things here and there. Some you miss of course...but some you don't. Are you coming to see the dutch one? |
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| Quique |
Well, it was clearly a dumb decision. It's unanimous--the majority of fans and people I've spoken with thought the new orchestrations were FAR, far inferior to the originals. Even my friend Wayne who saw it with me in NY last year thought they were crappy, and it was only his 2nd time seeing the show (first time was in Sydney back in 1987). It mystifies me. Why change something so time tested and emotive? People seem to think I care so much about orchestra size. That's not what I care about so much as a complete, real orchestra in other shows. Not some synthesized mess. Yes, I'm usually not pleased when they downsize orchestras, but as I mentioned before, with Les Mis, it's all about the unnecessary new orchestral score. |
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| Quique |
No. Too far away. I'm in America. 
But I'd love to hear an audio or see a video of it.
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| jqpopcorn |
Did the NY version sound as crap and tinny as what someone posted earlier on Youtube? If so i wholeheartedly agree with why you are upset. I would be also.
If it did then in someways thats good. Beacause what we sound like, is NOTHING like that. i guess the proof will be in the listening. You'll just have to wait till the CD comes out.....in a week or so actually
Im curious also. the MD has been in the studio all week supervising the mixing. He keeps raving about the prologue, so i will be very interested to see how it sounds. Also just to reconfirm....what was in NY was just a 'trial' of the new orchestrations.....regardless of whether anyone thinks it was needed. There were alot of changes between NY and Rotterdam. Trust me.. i too am a fan of Les Mis. I was very dubious about this gig also, having loved playing the original version, and not wanting to be stuck playing some crap new version for god knows how long. But it has really grown on me. Mind you i've heard/played it alot more than you have, so i have more of a chance. What is even really cool, is i have played a part in the reorchestration, just by being in the orchestra. It's cool being a part of history.....and hopefully for the better. Grtz[/quote] |
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| Quique |
That's really cool. Sounds like the Dutch production will be an improvement over the NY revival. I was the one who posted the YouTube vid, and yes, it was from the revival. I believe it was recorded right in the theatre. That's actually what it sounded like. Yick.
Out of curiosity, is the current Dutch production a replica production? Or did they redesign it? I love all the new designs they did in the early days (Tel Aviv, Prague, Hungary, etc...) and wonder what they did for this production. |
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| jqpopcorn |
Alas for this question i am the wrong guy to ask.
I live in the orchestral pit....haven't seen a THING Soon though...i hope |
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| Fantine |
From the commercials I have seen, Quique, it is the same 'original' production.
En hallo jqpopcorn, it's nice to see a(nother) Dutch person with some knowledge about musical theatre, Les Mis, and its orchestrations. |
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| Elin |
I'll leave the translation to someone else ...
http://tinyurl.com/4esjm9 http://tinyurl.com/5yp3ff http://tinyurl.com/4n8qy2 http://tinyurl.com/42dr4e http://tinyurl.com/6m2ws6 |
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| Quique |
So far it does seem to be the original production designs, which makes me jealous of y'all who will get to see it there. I want that version to come back here to the U.S.!! | ||||||
| kozafluitmusique |
Ahhh I really want to see this now...I'm too lazy to check: when does it close? | ||||||
| Fantine |
Some of those articles (sp? my mind seems dead, but what do you expect at 1:10 am) are arguing that some scenes (aka AHFOL, The Wedding Chorale and Beggars at the Feast) are too overdramatic, overdone, too grand.
Well duh! It's Les Mis! |
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| Elin |
Seems like there will be a cast recording :
http://www.castalbums.org/recordings/11853/discuss/ |
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| Quique |
Ahh. Cool!
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| bigR |
I can't open the link but that's great news anyway. How long has it been since the last official recording of the show? They weird thing is that it will have the cuts, wouldn't it?
Also, Fantine, does these articles say anything interesting about the actors or something particular about the production, or it is just some rambling about Les Mis in a general way? |
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| Elin |
How long has it been since the last official recording of the show?
2003 (Prague and four Japanese ones). |
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| Fantine |
Okay, I'll translate them one by one (as it is quite a lot of work). These translations aren't perfect, but you'll get the general idea.
------- New Mis�rables� is warm and swipes you off your feet ROTTERDAM � The hard working factorygirl Fantine dies. Nearly all students and workers die on the Parisian barricades. Javert, the fanatical policebloodhound jumps into the Seine. And Valjean, the hero of the miserables eventually also dies. The musical Les Mis�rables is a true battlefield, and yet after three hours the audience leaves the show happily and satisfied. From the moment that producer Cameron Mackintosh meddled with the concept of the French duo Sch�nberg/Boublil, Les Mis�rables has changed from a nice into a beautiful musical: flowing, romantic Music with strong recurring themes, a story with depth about social injustice in the 19th century, with thought through lighting and amazing scenery. Les Mis�rables was last seen in the Netherlands in 1991, with new musicalstars like Henk Poort, Danny de Munk en Pia Douwes. After several small productions success was granted for the musicals of Joop van den Ende. (I�m skipping a bit about the preparations of the theatre here) Apart from the musical arrangements, that have become slightly more pointy (yes that is the direct translation), almost nothing has changed in the past decennia. It�s up to the cast to make a renewed acquaintance with the musical tempting to the public. And things are looking up there. Ren� van Kooten, (A�da, Hair), may not look like someone who has just spend 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, but with his powerful voice (that he can also make wonderfully small) and powerful acting makes up for an impressing Valjean. The same can be said about the Fleming Wim van den Driessche, It�s a pity that Fantine dies so early in the show. Nurlaila Karim sings I Dreamed a Dream like a powerful gospel singer. The fresh air in the show comes from the inn couple Th�nardier, that in 1991 were played by Simone Kleinsma and Paul de Leeuw. Marjolein Algera and Carlo Boszhard make a mean, cabaret like pair of kings. They make optimal use of Seth Gaaikema�s translation. This new, Dutch version is warm and swipes you off your feet. The red flag is not kitsch when the mist of the shotpowder flows through the theatre. But not perfect. Scenes could easily be erased from the three hour during show. We can do without the whining love proclamation of the student Marius (Jamai Loman proves himself for once and for all as a acquisition in the musical circuit) to Cosette at the end of the first act and the weddingdance of the lovers after the interval. During that party the return of the oh-so-funny Th�nardiers is also over the top. And then the everlasting annoyment about the hard to hear(understand) lyrics of the big sung scenes. The little textbook that came with the CD of 1991 offers a solution, but overheadtitles would be � also because of the honors to the translator � a wished service to the public. |
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| jqpopcorn |
Save yourself some time and get everyone who wants to read the articles...or at least get the gist to put the newspaper link into a translator like
http://www.babelfish.altavista.com/ translate from Dutch into English and you will get a not perfect but the general idea translation. Cheers |
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| milamber_alw |
After watching this show I can post some remarks:
- First two rows are removed due to orchestra, so the first row is 3. - If you have a seat in the middle of this row (I suppose that it is something between 12-14) you'll have to watch the conductor's back. I had 8 and he didn't disturb my view at all. - The orchestration seemed very good for me, but I may not be the best person to evaluate this as I have seen LM only twice in Prague before. I don't know the current London version or any else. But you can check *cough, cough* this short sample to make your personal decision
- I don't know wthether there is the CD ready, I didn't look for it. Sorry. - There is no actual cast list for each day! When I asked girls in the cloakroom they only told me that they know that "Carlo (Thenardier) is not here today", but they did not know who will replace him. I had to guess it according to the faces in the programme. To the actors themselves... Well, they were good, but I have found very funny the Fantine's death (but I managed not to laugh) as she died somewhat like Lister showed in Red Dwarf. This was really the first association I got when I saw her Sorry to say that, but that's the fact.
I liked Javert - he seemed to live by his role. Valjean was ook very good, but I didn't pay much attention to him as I didn't come to watch him. I had another favourite from the ensemble so the roles like Valjean, Marius, Fantine etc. were of no importance for me
It may seem like I don't like Les Miserables... Well - I love the music, but the story itself is tooooo long. But I'm kinda masochist 
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| Quique |
I will always prefer John's originals over Chris', but I must say they certainly sounds much, much fuller than Broadway's revival. Bravo to the Dutch production for that. It does make a huge difference.
Got any more samples? |
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| Fantine |
Okay... That's definitely different. | ||||||
| bigR |
Thanks a lot for the translation Fantine! it was really nice and it is a lot of work!
Thanks for the "sample" too, milamber. I agree with Quique and Fantine. it sounds better than the revival, but when compared with the original orchestrations.. 
And, milamber, excuse me but.. . you didn't pay attention to neither Valjean, Javert, Marius or Fantine?? |
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| milamber_alw |
Ehm... well... Of course when they had some solos I have watched them, but I prefered somebody else from the cast
BTW - I don't know the original orchestrations, this is the same version I have heard in CZ, so it is a kind of baseline for me... (Yup, I'm LesMis noob )
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| Fantine |
Who? | ||||||
| kozafluitmusique |
I saw a poster coming from Schipol yesterday to Leiden Centraal.
I was like "Dad! "Iwant to see this!" He said, "Do you know how much it costs?" Me: "No" Him: four hundred Euros  youtube i go.
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| jqpopcorn |
So the new NL cast CD should be coming out in the next week or so. The new orchestrations are sounding great. BUT we made a DVD of the full show the other night, of which i have now made a full double CD of the entire show.
Unfortunately i am unable to share it with you, but if people are curious i would be willing to post some fragments to my myspace page so those who want to at least hear a little of what has changed, can do so. So let me know what you would like to hear and i'll see what i can do. If i do say so myself, some things sound amazing. The new orchestrations are rich and full. You can't compare it to the CSR, or TAC as that is a 71 piece orchestra, which will always sound better than any pit orchestra, but i think/hope you will be surprised. I urge any of you that can, to come and see it. Grtz! PS Top price tickets i think are about �69. also milamber_alw these can't be the same orchestrations as you heard in CZ as the basic version of this orchestration has only been performed in NY. We re-re orchestrated it here. So official new orchestrations and cuts have only ever been seen now in US and NED |
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| Quique |
Nobody has a problem with small orchestras, so size isn't the issue at all. The new orchestrations, which were written by Chris Janke (sp?) for the Broadway revival, are not as exciting, passionate, and expressive as John Cameron's originals, imo. That means the current Dutch production could boast a 1,000 piece orchestra and *I* (and some other members on here) still won't like it as much as a standard 18 piece orchestra playing John's originals. But like I said before, I applaud the Dutch production for at least having added more musicians. Though that only fixes the small, tinny sound that was heard on Broadway. It doesn't bring back the orchestral score that most fans have known and loved for over 20 years. I hope they stop using the revival orchestrations in future productions and go back to John's trademark ones. I'm pretty sure most people will get used to Chris' score after awhile and embrace it though. However, I'll stick to my old recordings. 
PS: I'd love to hear samples of "At the End of the Day," "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," and "One Day More" if possible. =) |
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| Fantine |
Leiden, that's where I live! I pass through Leiden Centraal daily. Are you somewhere here in the area? Wow! jqpopcorn, I'd love to see some bits! Do you have any idea if they will be releasing the DVD to the public? I know that every production makes a DVD but they are seldomly released 
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| Fantine |
I just found and amazing picture on musical.nl
The students have taken over the Erasmus bridge!! 
So awesome I'm so proud now.
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| kozafluitmusique |
Yeah! I live in the Hague, but my school is really close to Leiden! That's so funny. |
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| Fantine |
But you're not Dutch... Right? Oh four more weeks! |
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| milamber_alw |
Cool I have stopped there last week when I was coming from Keukenhof and then when I was returning from Rotterdam/Haag and I must say that I was quite impressed by that city. First I expected something like Breda but I liked it much more. Had great biertje and lunch in the garden in 2e Binnenvestgracht
jqpopcorn  well, you must know it the best, I can't argue about it
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| jqpopcorn |
Ah ok sorry if it was unclear. The DVD that was made is not a public release. It was made purely for study purposes for new orchestral members. The entire show is just the image of the conductor, with the sound. That is why i extracted the audio from the DVD.
Quique i am curious to know what your favourite recordings of are, with the original orchestrations. Excluding TAC and CSR. Out of curiousity i am comparing the original NL cast recording with the current version. (Bearing in mind that my current recording is "Live".) To my mind the original orchestration is the one sounding more synth heavy and tinny. (both orchestras with about the same members). Still your ears will always be the judge, and it's always hard to get used to a new sound esp in something you obviously love so much. I can only just re-iterate one thing over and over. When you think of the new orchestrations DO NOT think of whatever you saw or heard on Broadway!!! It has changed in alot of places. I'll try and get some stuff up asap, so your ears can be the judge. Grtz! |
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| Quique |
Thanks! I'd love to hear some more. I hope it has changed a lot in places (as in dumping Chris' and going back to John's, lol). As for my fave recordings, basically any recording that lists John Cameron as orchestrator is preferable to me. I realize others might even love the the new orchestrations, and that's cool. The last thing I want is to come off as if I look down upon anyone who likes or even prefers them. Anyway, can't wait to hear more.
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| jqpopcorn |
Ok kids,
For a limited time only, here are some highlights of a few tracks as requested by Quique....cos no one else did
They are not complete tracks, but i have made some cuts, and fade ins/outs. This is just so you can get a bit of an idea. This is not a "perfect" recording. This recording was done live. The studio CD should be released in a week or so. So go to: http://www.myspace.com/benschultztrombone Enjoy Grtz! |
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| Quique |
Wow! They've actually brought back elements of John's originals and merged them with some of Chris'. Very interesting. They've restored most of John's IDAD, ODM, and the opening of ATEOTD. OMO is the only one that is still very different, but the larger orchestra makes it sound better. I'm impressed. 
Thanks for the samples! |
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| jqpopcorn |
I TOLD you in one of my first posts that elements of the original had been restored...........
And don't forget also that the new one has been Co-orchestrated. By two people. Stephen Metcalfe also. And Chris had nothing to do with the dutch one. Stephen was the resident orchestrator. A lot of credit should go to him. But glad you enjoyed them, and some faith has been restored. Grtz! |
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| bigR |
Thank you so much! It was really nice and I loved listening to these. I agree with Quique in everything (although my opinion doesn't have as much worth as that of other people here being as I am a total musical illiterate). You do sound much better than NY. But I still wonder why on earth did they have to mess with the original orchestrations... I can live with some of the changes, but I don't think I will ever be used to the new opening...
And Fantine, thanks for the clips. I loved the marius too. After watching these and listening to jqpopcorn audios I can't wait to go and see it (i still have to wait 3 months, my tickets are for the first weekend of august!) Now I don't know if I want the running to be extended or not, because if it finally is as good as it sounds I'm probably going to want to see it more than once, and rotterdam is not precisely around the corner! Any rumours, jqpopcorn? |
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| Quique |
I was skeptical at first, but yes, my faith is restored.
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| Fantine |
They sound amazing!! Ohhhh these four weeks are a pain! | ||||||
| Quique |
Btw, how long is it playing? Or is it an open-ended run? | ||||||
| Fantine |
They haven't officially stated a closing date yet. They are currently booking up until October 1st. |
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| Fantine |
There are some nice pictures on http://www.musicals.nl if you click on Les Mis and the sub menu's. | ||||||
| Quique |
Cool pics! *Saves them* | ||||||
| Fantine |
Me too
I can't wait to see the programme. I hope they have some nice pictures. The programmes here are always huge (wel relatively seen) books. |
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| The Pirate King |
So wait, there will be an official cast album?
I don't know a single word of Dutch, but I like what I've heard of the cast. I'd import it. |
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| jqpopcorn |
Yes there will
Release date is unknown, but i'd expect it to be in a week or so. We were initially told it would be today....but alas no. One has been recorded and is still being mixed i think. Soon as i know (i played on it) you'll know Grtz! |
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| bigR |
Bunch of questions:
1. has the cd been released yet? (jqpocorn?) 2. has anyone already see the program? 3. does this production use the same translation that the amsterdam production or is it a new one? 4. (Mainly for jqpopcorn, but if anyone else knows the answer...). I'm maybe mistaken but I understand that the cuts where made first in Broadway because when the show lasted more than 3 hours, CM had to pay a lot of money to the musicians and for their extra time, and instead of doing so he decided to butcher the show and save some money? Well, if this is right, it is weird that they are keeping the same cuts in the Netherlands? I mean, do they musicians work under the same economical conditions everywhere in the world? it seems weird. What I mean is, (if you don't mind answering) are you payed by show or by the hour, and more important, if the show were still over 3 hours, would the producers have to pay an extra to the musicians? I mean, would it really be that much expensive for the producers? Or it is just that CM is really really greedy? (or maybe he actually likes the cuts, god help us!? |
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| jqpopcorn |
Hey,
No CD hasn't been released yet. Due to the fact that it's the first CD of the new version, it was mixed, edited and mastered, but then had to be sent off to Cammack and Schoenberg to be "approved". They send back a bunch of notes, and then it likely has to be re-edited, mixed and mastered. So it's taking a bit longer than originally thought. I don't know exactly when it should be out. Im quite curious myself. Yes i have the programe. I think it looks great. A whole lot of glossy pics from the show. As far as i can tell, the show uses basically the same translation as before. There were a few changes here and there, mostly words updated to be more modern/relevant. Re your other question. Well im sure $$ money had something to do with it. In USA and UK, the musician unions are very strong, so when it comes to overtime and all that, it can cost productions a lot of money when shows go overtime. For most shows there is a per call fee, not hourly. Most calls are for 3 hours, so with a show like Les Mis that can run over that time. It can get pretty costly. It doesn't work like that here though. We get paid per show, on a fee we negotiate with the production. At the moment the show is running anywhere from 3hrs 5 mins to 3 hrs 15 mins....depending on who's conducting....and don't get me started on the conductors....THAT is a whole other story
The cuts were possibly partly to do with this factor, but the cuts were more to do with tightening up the show. Think of it as a "directors" cut that's done 10 years after a film comes out. Sometimes they add more, sometimes they take stuff out. And it would make no sense to make a new version of Les Mis, and have different versions for different places. It would just be too complicated. Most of the stuff you don't really miss...(well i don't) Little People is completely cut down...i think it's only 12-16 bars. There are lines cut here and there in things like Lovely Ladies, Cart Crash, and small things like that. The biggest one i can think of, and possibly the one i miss most, is the introduction to Master Of The House. I don't think it's been butchered though. Yes there are cuts, yes it is not the same as the original version. Hope this kinda answers your questions> Grtz! |
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| bigR |
Oh, I wasn�t talking about the old cuts. Little People was ridiculously long and it needed to go. I talk about the newer ones.
I don�t mind so much the cuts at the wedding (too long) and lovely ladies. And they could get rid of the whole �runaway cart� for all I care. But what they did to �Come to me� is unforgivable and utter butchery. I can�t listen to it and not to cringe. The Batamabois scene is also one of the worst cuts. It has lost all its strenght. Same thing with �Attack�. All this people rush in and out the stage shouting and fighting and the audience does not have time to understand what�s happening. It just doesn�t work. Oh, and I miss the complete �castle on a cloud�. And don�t get me started on the introduction of �master of the house�. Apparently they already tried to cut it before the london opening because the show was so long, but they decided against it because without it the scene simply didn�t work. Well, suddenly it does not seem to matter anymore. I also HATE the cuts at the barricade. They make it feel awfully rushed and they don�t give the audience time to adapt to the different changes of mood. I really dislike how half the lines are missing when they are trying to shoot Javert, but what I really really resent is that they cutted the �drink with me� reprise (with the �castle� notes at the end). It didn�t just help to set the atmosphere. It was so sad and so nice� And I really don�t see why it would be a problem to have different versions in different countries. They actually do it. The Broadway Revival kept �here upon this stones� but London doesn�t have it. The Revival had �10 little bullets�and London keeps �little people�� By the way, do you have �little people� or �10 little bullets� for gavroche�s dead? (oh, and some gossiping on the conductors would be greatly appreciated)
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| jqpopcorn |
We have 10 little bullets and Here upon the stones, the same as the Broadway revival.
London is different because it is still the original orchestration. The new version was first previewed in NY and then improved in the Netherlands. Of course there can always be changes made, but as i understand it, this is the "definitive" new version. And no...sorry i shouldn't really expand on the conductors in a public forum. It wouldn't be polite
Grtz! |
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| Fantine |
One week more!
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| Fantine |
Ohh we got an email today inviting us to a special 'Introduction' prior to the show.
Apparently the director's right hand is going to tell something about Les Mis�rables and the making process (well, I guess that's what it's all about). It is in the theatre voyer... So not backstage, too bad! Haha. It costs 3,50 Euros but we'll get free coffee/tea
I think I will do it. |
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| Fantine |
ONE DAY MORE!!!! | ||||||
| Quique |
I'm so excited for you! |
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| kozafluitmusique |
Fantine, you're SO lucky. I wish i could see it, but my parents are like 'too much money!' | ||||||
| Fantine |
Thanks! I'm just gonna go and enjoy it but I'll do my best to try and remember as much as possible to write a review. Once that's done I'll post it here. And scan the brochure, obviously
I'm really curious as to what sorts of merchandise they will be selling. With TLK they had dolls, glass, DVD's, statues... You name it! |
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| milamber_alw |
Fantine Good luck with scanning the brochure - it is 78-pages thick book But there are many, many pictures... Although the best part for me was this one
Hope you'll enjoy it, I think that I'll make nog een visit to Rotterdam too
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