THE SHOW:
In my opinion, Les Misérables is the best musical ever written. It is surprisingly faithful to its source, the excellent epic novel by Victor Hugo. True, many plot episodes have been dropped and some characters have been combined, but the only major change is that the character of Eponine has been ennobled. The main storyline is about Jean Valjean, a man embittered by an overzealous prison system but redeemed by the kindness of a bishop. He vows to live the remainder of his life as an upright man, which leads him to be a successful businessman and mayor, the guardian of an orphan, and eventually a fighter in the doomed Paris revolt of 1832. However, there are a multitude of characters who interact with Valjean and each other. The plot is complex, and the show runs about 3 hours, longer than the typical Broadway musical. Large portions of the show are serious, but it has its humorous moments, and other parts (including the finale) are extremely uplifting.

THE RECORDING:
This three-CD set is an excellent recording of the show -- this is one of my most prized possessions!

First of all, the use of a full symphony orchestra lends an extra dramatic flair apparent from the first chord onward.

Secondly, I recommend this recording because of its completeness. To me, many of the most inspiring parts of the score are where Valjean shows his Christ-like compassion: championing Fantine, claiming Cosette, freeing Javert, and pleading for Marius. None of these are included on the Broadway recording, nor are the bittersweet musical sequences following several of the deaths in the second act.

Third of all, the recording cast is drawn from members of several English-speaking productions, plus one member from a non-English-speaking production. With only one exception, these singing actors do a fine job. I will comment only on the three most controversial casting choices:

People familiar with recordings featuring Colm Wilkinson as Valjean find difficulty adjusting to Gary Morris, who plays the role very differently than Wilkinson. He has a voice that's rougher, but I think it has more power and a wider range of emotion that more than makes up for the roughness: compare the sense of anguish he brings to such numbers as "What Have I Done?," "Who Am I?," and "Bring Him Home." I think that Valjean, a man who has endured so much pain and suffering in his life, would be this emotional, even if he has dedicated his life to God. However, I understand how other people prefer Wilkinson's more gentlemanly portrayal of Valjean.

Kaho Shimada, from the Japanese cast, did not speak English at the time of this recording. Her accent is no stranger than some popular country singers, and I doubt anyone who did not know she didn't speak English would realize her unfamiliarity with the language. Ms. Shimada has a "pop"-style voice, but it works well for the downtrodden Eponine.

I agree with other reviewers who dislike Tracy Shayne in the part of Cosette. The character is not one of the better parts written by either Hugo or Boublil, so I can forgive Ms. Shayne for her lack of acting the part to its fullest, but I cannot pardon her weak and somewhat fluttery voice. Surely someone better could have been found for this landmark recording. Because the role of Cosette is secondary, this flaw is not a deal-breaker.

The rest of the cast and chorus are superb -- great acting and strong voices. Special accolades for Philip Quast as Javert and Anthony Warlowe as Enjolras.

To summarize: if money is tight, skip a few meals to cover the extra cost of this recording. It's worth it!

Les Miserables is not only compelling music it is very dramatic, therefore no other version is as satisfactory a listening experience. The other versions are really on Les Miserables, the greatest hits, and therefore lack the dramatic impact. This recording is superb; buy it and enjoy!

This is my favorite Broadway production. This is the best recording of Les Mis available.

Like so many others, I have never been so deeply effected by any other staged musical. It is somewhat like going to mass. I know the story. I have seen the turntable production multible times in multiple countries. And still, whenever I find myself at a location near a live performance, I feel compelled to go again. I know that I will always be so moved as to feel marvel that such a feast of story, sights, and sounds can be put together in a single theatrical production. Somehow it seems to renew something inside of me that is good.
This play has so few spoken words that it is rather like an opera. It has inspired me to buy virtually every recording associated with it (even the French concept album)... searching for that heart felt experience. This album, better than any other, allows you to re-experience the entire play. It is a treasure.
William R. Beaty, M.D.

I have this recording memorized front to back, and when my old cassettes finally wore out, it was time to replace them digitally. Well of course it sounds phenomenal, and the booklet has all the cast info plus all the lyrics and a synopsis of the plot. I can't compare this with the other recordings, but it's my favorite as I grew up with this one.