Original London Cast Recording (OLC)
This recording is...well... a mixed bag. The cast is all right, even nice, the "lost songs" are there, but it doesn't have some of the Les Miz energy that a recording needs. I would favor the TAC over this one.
Colm Wilkinson: Jean Valjean: A-
This recording isn't Colm's best. It sounds more mechanical and "by the book," probably because it was the first recording. Also, one spot that really disturbed me was in "At the End of the Day": "What is this fighting all about, will somewhere tear these two apart!" was completely emotionless. It was just like an automatic voice. However, he does a nice job throughout the rest of the recording, just not at his best.
Javert: Roger Allam: A-
Roger Allam doesn't seem to have as much anger of later Javerts, probably because he was the first. He still gives a very nice performance, particularly in Stars and Javert's Suicide. Some of his interpretations in Stars are really interesting to listen to.
Fantine: Patti LuPone: C
Patti LuPone lacks emotion, to put it bluntly. Her voice is nice enough, pretty even, but a lot of her songs are rather flat. To her credit, though, she does a VERY nice job in Lovely Ladies. I especially noted a lack of emotion in some parts of Come to Me (how fast-the-min-utes-fly-a-way-and-ev-ery-min-ute-col-der). She sang that phrase perfectly in time, without the emotional rushing of later Fantines. I've heard that she's better in other roles, and I'd have to agree. She's an average Fantine; not marvelous, but not absolutely terrible.
Mme. Thernadier: Sue Jane Tanner: B+
Although not up to the standards of Gay Soper and Jenny Galloway, Sue Jane Tanner does an admirable first performance of Mme. Thernadier. She manages to portray herself as a sleazy, yet feisty innkeeper's wife by speaking a few of her lines. Her voice conveys a lot of scorn and annoyance, and I liked her little bit in One Day More.
M. Thernadier: Alun Armstrong: B+
Because this was the first recording, Alun Armstrong was not as good in the OLC as in the TAC. However, he still gave a nice performance. He just didn't sound as sleazy as in the TAC, his voice being a bit more civilized than was good. This really can't be faulted, though; none of the performers on the OLC are absolutely marvelous.
Marius: Michael Ball: A
Again, he wasn't as good as on the other recordings, but he still gave a good performance. I really don't remember much about him, though. I guess I've listened to him so many times that he just becames a given.
Cosette: Rebecca Caine: A
Rebecca Caine was a very sweet, flowing, beautiful voice. A plus on this recording was that she got to sing "I Saw Him Once," which was later cut. Although she probably has the sweetest voice in this recording, it's a little too soft. It might be drowned out by some of the more powerful voices.
Enjolras: David Burt: B
David Burt gives a very nice performance of Enjolras, but it's not particularly noteworthy like Anthony Warlow's. His voice is strong, clear, and revolutionary-ish, but it just lacks some of the focused intensity of Michael Maguire and Anthony Warlow.
Eponine: Frances Ruffelle: A
Frances Ruffelle is rather controversial among Mizzies due to her voice. It is very whiny and often sounds like a mewling cat, but it really fits her character. It helps her sound really heartbroken in "One Day More" and "on My Own," although it makes her sound like a spoiled brat in "Plumet Attack." This Eponine is really a matter of taste. I like her heartbroken voice, but when my friend first heard her, she just exclaimed, "Uh!"
Grantaire: I really didn't pay any attention to him, I'm not a big LesAmis fan.
Gavroche: (I'm sorry I don't know who it is!!): A-
This Gavroche gets to sing the full version of Little People, which is a BIG BIG plus!! The full version is really cute and funny. He delivers it with oftentimes rather flat pitch, but a little child can't really do much better. What really matters is all the emotion he puts into the song. I think it's a great song, and WHY they deleted it I have no idea.