Well, as some of you might know, I recently started being the bassoonist for a performance of Oklahoma, which, by the way, is going much better than expected, I won't be doing Mahler any time soon but it's a start

I'm also the flautist for my school rendition of Les Miserables. But...like Oklahoma, I've never heard the music to it, and have no idea what to expect like very difficult passages, complex timings, multiple solos etc (all of which I found in Oklahoma)

So, if anyone is aware of anything like this in any of the songs etc, any information regarding the musical like a storyline or whatever would be most appreciated!

jonscott14 does - I beleive he performed this professionally recently

Les Mis is a totally different ballgame from Oklahoma - the music is much more modern and therefore the timings and rhythms are more difficult. The story is about the french revolution and fairly depressing - lots of people die! It is a very emotional show!
I have played for both Oklahoma and Les Mis recently so if you want any more info, feel free to PM me

The only song I've heard from Les Mis is "Stars" which is gorgeous!

Some beautiful flute parts in "I Dreamed A Dream" that you may like if your anything like me!
I think basically its about a poor lady in the french revolution who has a baby but for some reason (which I can't remember) she's not supposed to have it and she is killed and this man who is on the run brings up the baby as his own. As said before loadsa people die and its quite depressing but some of the music is nice. Especially "I Dreamed A Dream" and "On My Own" (my personal favourites)

Les Misérables has absolutely nothing to do with the French revolution (sorry to be pedantic, but we're talking about my country's history here). The French revolution (or at least the on everyone calls the French revolution) took place in 1789. Les Mis is set over a period of about 15 years (1815 - 1830).

The key element that tells us that Les Mis is not about the French revolution is quite simply that there are no aristocrats being slaughtered - pretty much a key element of the revolution.

The mistake often comes in because people mistake it for a musical - initially the story was written by Victor Hugo (it is a work of fiction) and tells the story of Jean Valjean - a prisoner who goes on to become the mauor - a student political uprising also takes place in Paris (although not against the nobility as in the revolution), but it isn't the key focus. Long before it became a musical, excerpts of it were being performed to music in France (I dreamed a dream was originally written in French 'J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie' was the title) and eventually it went on to create the hit we know now. It is making its way back to France as a musical proper now (still a relatively new concept here) and I'm sure it will do very well.

So many people trot out that it's about the revolution without ever actually bothering to check if that's true or not (it tells you otherwise in the programme and the CD notes) that it gets a little irritating when a little effort would clear up the confusion.

It's a musical based on Victor Hugo's epic work of literature and deals with the life of a character called Jean Valjean who goes from prisoner to mayor in the nineteenth century - the student uprising is a very minor backdrop part - the show opens and ends with Valjean.

If you really want to understand it, read the books (it's over several volumes), otherwise, just enjoy playing some fabulous music.

Allan

http://www.lesmis.com/

Les Mis is my favourite musical! It's absolutely fantastic, but I didn't actually understand the story line until we went with school to watch it on the west end, despite being given print-offs of the storyline! It's amazing though and the music is really gorgeous!
If you want a plot, go to 'About the show' on the website above Probably not the clearest idea ever but it has nice pictures

PS: leave the sound on and it plays extracts from the songs during the introduction

Les Mis!!!!! I love it!!

I saw it in London with our Drama group and it was amazing! We were supposed to be doing it with the Drama group, and I was going to play the piano, and all the parts were cast, and then our Javert quit!! I have never spoken to him since! But its been rescheduled for 2008, i think. I think it has to be my favourite musical, the music is SOOOOOO GREAT! you should buy the DVD, it's really good and the actors are fantastic. My favourite song is "Stars", but I really enjoyed "Who am I?" because it's very clever. And I always cry when Javert dies!

I love that one! The opening on the CD for that song just sends shivers up my spine. As does 'One Day More' and the finale...fantastic...

Well even if you haven't heard it it's amazing!

I love Les Mis too! Seen it twice in London and sung the medley arrangement at school! One of my favourite musicals.

I think we're doing that in choir this year - can't wait!!

You should be ashamed!! It is one of the best musicals ever performed (IMHO)

Read the book. Penguin do a translation, which is easily read-able. It's set over a few years, and follows Jean Valjean as mentioned. He encounters many characters and their stories intermingle with his life. It's a realtively complex plot for a musical, but it is enjoyable even if you aren't quite following the storyline!

Look out for: I Dreamed a Dream; On My Own; Stars; Empty Chairs at Empty Tables and Master of the House.

We've sung so many of the songs in our music group, including the One Day More arrangement. It's ace, and never gets tiring. Nothing like Oklahoma though.

We've just done a les mis medly with the chor in our school orchestra, the music's excellent! Definitely have a listen to it, and enjoy playing it too!