All though I actually never have seen Les Míserables in real life, besides on dvd, it stills stands my heart near.
I first encountered the world of Les Míserables on New Year´s Eve 1997. I heard the 10th anniversary album, which a friend had bought me for Christmas. And to this very fine day I still charice it very much.
I have done some researching about the musical, which I wanna share with all you musical lovers in the world out there..

On October 8, 1985, Les Misérables opened at London's Barbican Theater to mediocre reviews. Many producers would have let the show die then and there, but Cameron Mackintosh
took the chance of a lifetime by transferring the show to the West End's Palace Theatre. After a decade, it is still playing to near capacity in London and New York and has spawned
an international phenomenon unlike any the theater world has seen thus far.

Based on the Victor Hugo novel about social injustices, the world's most popular musical gained it's popularity in much the same way the novel did. Word of mouth.

The people of the world have spoken; the show has hit a spiritual chord in every country and culture where it is heard or seen. The show has played in countries as diverse as Poland,
Czechlosovakia, Japan, Austria, Iceland, Holland, Spain, Israel, Hungary, Indonesia, Australia, France and Korea. It has echoed in the thoughts of the students in Tiannamen Square, and
the East Berliners as they watched the wall tumble. The show speaks to those lost souls who bravely fought and lost in Hungary's uprising against the Communist regime in 1956.

Ten years after that first performance, Cameron Mackintosh gathered the finest cast I have had the pleasure of seeing or hearing, in celebration of this world wide phenomenon. The
Royal Albert Hall played home to this one night lovefest. The brilliant production team who conceived and staged the original production were again on hand to stage the concert. The
international cast, headed by Colm Wilkinson reprising his role of Jean Valjean, drove the audience to a frenzy.

Les Misérables vetereans Philip Quast (Australia), Michael Ball (London), Michael Maguire (New York), Judy Kuhn (New York), Alun Armstrong (London), Lea Salonga (New
York), Ruthie Henshall (London), and Jenny Galloway (London) round out the outstanding cast. Hannah Chick as Young Cosette, and Adam Searles as Gavroche played their parts to
perfection. They were joined by a 250 person chorus, providing a richness of tone and harmony unheard elsewhere.

A very special encore was planned for the evening. The significance of the international success of this show was not lost on the audience as two by two, the men who have played
Valjean around the world paraded onstage led by a flag carrying Gavroche each. Once onstage, Colm took his place center stage and lead a stirring rendition of Do you Hear the People
Sing?" leading into "One Day More". Each Valjean in succession sang a musical phrase in his own language, as the two overhead large screen projections showed them and honored
their home country. The entire company joined in, and I'm sure many audience members as well.

Resume of Les Misérables
 

First of all I have written down the whole play so feel free to wander into the world of Jean Valjean, the con on the run
and read about his misfortune and miserable life.. The 10th anniversary Musical is devided into two acts

Act One:
(1)   the prologue ~ Jean ValJean, Javert, Bishop & Company ~
(2)   on parole/ The bishop ~ Bishop and Soldiers ~
(3)   ValJean´s soliloquy ~ ValJean ~
(4)   at the end of the day ~ Choir, Company, Factory Foreman, Factory Girl and Valjean ~
(5)   I dreamed a dream ~ Fantine ~
(6)   lovely ladies ~ Company ~
(7)   fantine´s arrest ~ Javert, Fantine & Bamatabois ~
(8)   the runaway cart ~ Orchestra ~
(9)   who am I? - the trial ~ ValJean ~
(10) fantine´s death ~ Fantine & ValJean ~
(11) the confrontation ~ ValJean & Javert ~
(12) castle on a cloud ~ Young Cosette & Mme. Thénardier ~
(13) master of the house ~ Thénardier, Mme. Thénardier & Company ~
(14) the bargain - waltz of threachery ~ ValJean, Thénardier & Mme. Thénardier ~
(15) look down ~ Choir, Gavroche, Marius & Enjolras ~
(16) stars ~ Javert ~
(17) ABC café/ red and black ~ Enjolras, Marius, Grantaire & Students ~
(18) do you hear the people sing? ~ Enjolras, Students, Company & Choir ~
(19) rue plumet - in my life ~ Cosette, Marius & Eponine ~
(20) a heart full of love ~ Marius, Cosette & Eponine ~
(21) the attack on rue plumet ~ Thénardier, Gang, Eponine, Marius, Cosette & ValJean ~
(22) one day more! ~ Full Company & Choir ~

Act Two:
(1)   entr´acte ~ Orchestra ~
(2)   on my own ~ Eponine ~
(3)   building the barricade ~ Orchestra, Choir & Company ~
(4)   javert´s arrival ~ Javert, Enjolras & Company ~
(5)   little people ~ Gavroche ~
(6)   a little fall of rain ~ Eponine & Marius ~
(7)   first attack ~ Orchestra ~
(8)   drink with me ~ Grantaire, Marius, Students, Comapany & Choir ~
(9)   bring him home ~ ValJean ~
(10) the final battle ~ Enjolras & Company
(11) the sewers ~ Orchestra ~
(12) dog eats dog ~ Thénardier ~
(13) javert´s suicide ~Javert ~
(14) turning ~ Ladies of the Company ~
(15) empty chairs at empty tables ~ Marius ~
(16) every day ~ Cosette & Marius ~
(17) heart full of love - reprise ~ Cosette, Marius & ValJean ~
(18) the wedding chorale ~ Choir ~
(19) beggars at the feast ~ Thénardier & Mme. Thénardier ~
(20) epilogue (finale) ~ ValJean, Fantine, Cosette, Marius, Eponine, Full Company & Choir ~

But of course ´ Les Misérables ´ wouldn´t have swept the world as much as it did if it hadn´t been due to the fantastic actors and singers! So therefore in big gratitude I made a profil about some of the singers :)

Jean ValJean ~ Colm Wilkinson ~
Javert ~ Philip Quast ~
Fantine ~ Ruthie Henshall ~
Mme Thénardier ~ Jenny Galloway ~
Thénardier ~ Alun Armstrong ~
Eponine ~ Lea Salonga ~
Marius ~ Michael Bali ~
Enjolras ~ Michael Maguire ~
Cosette ~ Judy Kuhn ~
Grantaire ~ Anthony Crivello ~
Gavroche ~ Adam Searles ~
Young Cosette ~ Hannah Chick ~

The Master behind the play Victor Hugo.. want to know the background of this writer then... here you go...

Biography of Victor Hugo

The writing of Les Misérables