Review of the Complete Symphonic Review (CSR)

This is one of the best recordings of Les Miz that there is out there. It's far better than the OLC or OBC, and is almost on the same level as the TAC. It was originally intended to be a recording of the Sydney, Australia cast. Eventually, it became international, with performers from Japan, New York, and London. It was also reorchestrated for a full symphonic orchestra. You can definitely tell. The orchestra is MARVELOUS!! When I first turned on the prologue, it completely blew me away! The orchestra is very rich and full-sounding, and the cast is very good as well! CSR Highlights was my first Les Miz recording, and I'm still rather partial to it. A lot of people hate the cast, but I love it. I suggest that you borrow it from a friend first, and then decided whether you like it enough to purchase it or burn a copy.

Jean Valjean: Gary Morris: A

Gary Morris is probably the most controversial performer ever to take the stage in Les Miz. Colm Wilkinson is on every other recording of Les Miz, and his reputation probably hurt Morris' quite a bit. I think that Gary Morris gives a great performance of Jean Valjean; he can hit all of the notes well, and obviously puts a lot of emotion into his voice. There has been some talk about his voice sounding too civilized. If you think about it, Colm's voice sounds much rougher in the galley scene, and Morris' New York accent was a little bit off-putting. Still, I think that Morris does a great job and shoud not be constantly yelled at.

Javert: Phillip Quast: A+

As I've said before, Phillip is the best Javert! His performance in the CSR is just as good as in the TAC, which stands for ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS!! (Need I say more?)

Fantine: Debbie Byrne: A

Another controversial performer...(sigh...) Debbie was my first Fantine, so I'm still rather partial to her. She often has a sort of wailing quality in her voice, which I think fits the misery Fantine is supposed to feel. However, many people hear this as straining her voice (which is probably true). I still like Debbie, though, due to the amount of emotion she puts into her voice. Her "I Dreamed a Dream" makes her sound very heartbroken. Whether it is a miserable wailing or a strain, that particular quality of her voice lends a lot of emotion to it.

M. Thenardier: Barry James: A+

Barry James sounds incredibly evil. His "Master of the House" is filled with Halloweeny "cacklings" and evil laughs that add a lot to its effect. Some people may prefer Alun Armstrong's more comic interpretation, but I very much enjoy listening to Barry James. His somewhat raspy, cracked voice (I'm pretty sure it's intentional) defines his character very well, as does speaking some of his lines.

Mme. Thenardier: Gay Soper: A

Gay Soper does a very good job as Mme. Thenardier. Her voice makes her sound just like a "feisty" and rebellious landlord's wife who shares her husband's greed for money. Her bit after Castle on a Cloud ("Now look who's here, the little madam herself...") is especially good and introduces her character well. (I love that section! I sang it all throughout PE today, annoying a lot of people.)

Enjolras: Anthony Warlow: A++

Anthony Warlow is the best Enjolras to ever hit the stage. He has a marvelous baritone voice that is very determined, deep, rich, and magnificent. His stunning voice delivers a great rendition of "Do You Hear the People Sing" and all of his other songs. It's too bad that he wasn't on the TAC. Both Phillip Quast and Anthony were performing in "The Secret Garden" at the time, and they could only send one. He is the definitive Enjolras, as I said in my Dreamcast list.

Marius: Michael Ball: A+

Michael Ball delivers one of his best performances on this recording. As I've said in NEARLY EVERY REVIEW, he is a great Marius and defines his character with his emotional voice. Do I have to say it again?

Cosette: Tracy Shayne: A

AARGH!! ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL PERFORMER!! Tracy Shayne is one of the more controversial Cosettes, as is obvious from the previous sentence. She has a very thin, pretty voice that is fortunately strong (at least it sounds strong on the CD). Her voice has been described by others as "sounding like fingernails running down a chalkboard" or "unbearable to listen to." I think that this is a huge exaggeration. She definitely does not have the emotional depth that Judy Kuhn portrays through her voice, but it is still a very pretty voice. It just doesn't help the popular image of Cosette being a pretty ditz who gets everything she wants. I personally like it, but it's either a love-it or hate-it thing.

Eponine: Kaho Shimada: A

Kaho Shimada came from Japan to perform in this recording, and I’ve heard that she didn’t know any English at the time. With that in mind, her diction in the CSR is absolutely amazing. With the exception of one small pronunciation error in On My Own, her English was nearly perfect! Shimada is one of the in-between Eponines. She’s not as strong as Lea Salonga or as whiny as Frances Ruffelle, though she does lean more towards the whiny side. Her interpretation is very good; she puts a lot of emotion into her songs, which is especially good, considering that she was singing in a foreign language. Shimada’s slightly whiny voice is probably the closest to the real Eponine as you can get, though I would still prefer Lea Salonga’s clear, strong one.

Grantaire: Kenny D'Aquila: A

HOORAY! I ACTUALLY NOTICED SOMETHING ABOUT GRANTAIRE!! Kenny D'Aquila has a nice voice in several parts, but during "ABC Cafe/Red and Black" he sounds horrible. I know that he's trying to be drunk, and that he did a GREAT job of showing that in his voice, but it sounds so strange!! Out of nowhere, a gravelly, harsh, raspy voice appears, and it's rather surprising. Other than that, I really didn't notice much. (I NEVER listen to "Drink with Me.")

Gavroche: (Unknown): A

The Gavroche on this recording sounds very good!! He's in tune with the orchestra (not something a lot of 8 or 9 year-olds can do!). He has a very nice voice that fits the character of Gavroche very well. I've only listened to him a few times, but he ranks up with Adam Searles as one of my favorite Gavroche.