The reason I got into musical theatre, depicted in one note change. I originally watched the 25th because I was OBSESSED with Nick Jonas at the time. Alfie’s performance is what got me into musical theatre. He, in MY OPINION, is the most vocally talented man on earth right now. JOJ and Colm are two of my absolute favorites. But, to me, no one will ever touch Alfie in this role. I went to New York for my 21st birthday JUST to see Alfie as Valjean. He did a run for MAYBE 4 weeks. and I got to stage door and meet him and I told him his performance in the 25th is what got me into musical theatre. I will treasure that moment for the rest of my life.
I will never tire of watching that moment when Alfie comes in....incredible, and Michael Ball face at that moment! This is a proper "right hold my beer moment" 😉😂
Umm…. I have no words. It isn't a "hold my beer" moment; it's a "smile and pretend this makes sense" moment. Colm, John and Simon's performances of Jean ValJean have been so pure for decades and Alfie is nothing but a peacock, mimicking the pristine presentation of a character that has already been perfected. Alfie has talent, no doubt but I cannot imagine that there are many people that grew up hearing Colm as ValJean will ever think Alfie quite “gets it”. He certainly is pretty... and loud… peacock.
I have seen the different movie versions, all the concerts, the shows on Broadway and on Tour of Les Miserables and I can honestly say that Alfie Boe's part from :25-:45 is the single most impressive and exhilarating moment that I have ever witnessed period.
Wow, always liked Colm's version it was written for his voice, however Alfie blew the roof off, you hear the huge difference between a classically trained voice and a musical theatre voice. You can see the reaction of the singers behind Alfie when he sings. Just goose pimples every time. Can listen to this all the time.
Boe's got a lovely voice, but is this song about having a lovely voice? Boe sings very well "with feeling" and all the other that they teach you at music school, but at the end all I'm left with is a beautiful voice. This song comes at a point in the play where a powerful voice is redundant. The best rendition I've seen of this song, other than Colm, is Karimloo's. He knew how to dial back his verdi-baritone belt and show something different.
Sam Serrao Boe doesn’t have feeling. He’s quite wooden. Classically trained doesn’t have to equal wooden. Cosette is often played by a classically trained soprano (orignal Cosettes Rebecca Caine and Judy Kuhn are both classically trained) and most aren’t as wooden as Alfie. Opera singers in opera are also not wooden.
Yes Alfie can sing, and he can definitely sing loud, but he is supposed to be praying in this scene. The audience is supposed to feel pain here, so his interpretation just sounds loud. I like opera by the way, so not hating on classically trained singers...
Alfie sang the song beautifully and with a lot of feeling as Jean Valjean during the main part of the concert. This is an encore, where they expected him to go full on operatic.
All of them have great voices and play the part of Valjean wonderfully but Alfie's voice is so very near to perfection it is amazing. I cry every time I hear him sing these song and now that I have the DVD I listen to it almost every day.
I love the way Alfie Boe comes in and blows them all out of the water. And Michael Ball’s reaction is great too. I was lucky enough to see Alfie on broadway some years ago and it was an incredible experience
He did not blow them out of the water, that is not what proper music appreciation is about. These are talented men standing up here and doing a phenomenal job with the part they are given. Now, Nick Jonas had no business on that stage with these men, Norm Lewis and Ramin Karimloo.
I love how Michael Ball almost shits himself in his joyful excitement at Alfie's key change which then almost immediately turns into an expression like "is this real life? I can't believe him!" :D No wonder they made a duo and now tour together :)
Why? He's just gotten done giving this amazing performance of the entire show. I'd belt, too, if I had a voice like that (I don't; I'm an alto). Besides - this really is one of the most wonderful songs ever written and deserves the swell of emotion they all give to it at that point. It's fabulous.
I'm a newbie in musical..I cried so many times just watching the show on my PC...all of them are great...I love how there are a bit theatrical move in this 25th anniversary..love love love...oh my GOD..I have added bucket list, one day I hope I can see the 50th anniversary concert..
In saw this on Instagram some time ago, I didn't even know there had been a 25th Anniversary Concert. I only saw this excerpt and fell totally in love with this version 😍. I could watch it over and over again. This right here is one of the best versions of any song I have ever heard. I can't even count how many times I have watched this video and how many times I have shown it to other people completely excited, while they couldn't appreciate the greatness of this beautiful song...
@LukeyBoy36 In 1985 I was 17 when I saw this in the original production at the Barbican in London....it has made me cry for 25 years! Crying is a great way to know that you're in touch with your emotions....I wish you a great musical life. Nick in Spain.
Lesmiserableslondon, please upload the complete quartet! It was a gem of RU-vid. The variety performance is good but it doesn’t compare to the original.
I saw him in the role on Broadway. I went to New York as my 21st birthday present JUST to see him in the role. His performance in this 25th anniversary was the performance that got me into musical theatre. And I got to meet him when he stage doored. It was the coolest thing...
Michael Ball on the left when Alfie kicks in: awe, pure amazement. And he has seen things. No wonder they hooked up and toured together. I guess it took no more than this moment to convience Ball :D
Michael and Alfie were friends long before this - they met in 2007 when they were in a production of 'Kismet'. Apparently he was the one who suggested Alfie for the role of JVJ to Cameron Mackintosh.
All the comments are about Alfie coming in with his operatic key change and how powerful a moment it is. It is, but in quartet singing blend is everything. Locking in chords is what makes it beautiful. All four singing at the same dynamic with no one part overpowering the other three. Instead of just blowing everyone out of their chairs they missed an opportunity for something much more beautiful in a song that is a man imploring god to spare a young man’s life.
@@fezzik7619 But they did all sing in the same dynamic, until one particular part, the point being, this was not in the show. This was an extra, which the audience loved. I understand you prefer the older style, it was the original, but music does grow as better singers step up. Alfie Boe didn't sing it like an opera in the show, but put on show the talents he worded very hard to get, with the blessing of the producers , writers endorsement. Which as you can see from the comments - was very welcome indeed. If you had seen the practice session you would have known this. This is Musical Theatre not as an Opera. everyone has an opinion and a preference. No one is saying your opinion doesn't stand. It's not a competition.
@@fezzik7619 Then you knew what was coming, why your song and dance. Alfie never blew anyone out of their seats. You played down his performance because you prefer someone else. That's a cheap shot. They didn't miss a shot, they chose to do it better. When you have a Mercedes in the garage, it's a waste of money not to use it. We don't travel with horses & carriages either now a days. Time moves on. Bye.
Michael's the reason Alfie got the part. As the original Marius, he and Cameron M are good friends. Michael and Alfie have both shared that they were in a "truly horrible production of Kismet" together, and that's how they knew each other. Cameron was searching for a voice for the 25th and Michael recommended Alfie.
I was there as well, breathtaking indeed. So very much looking forward to the DVD, but I will get to relive the experience on November 17 at the movie theater.
Saw this live in the cinema, such an incredible experience, even though I wasn't actually at the O2. I could feel myself tearing up, this always gives me shivers and goosebumps XD AMAZING!
Yep. I think it's one of the most thrilling things I've ever heard in any musical number, in any style, ever. Some moments are just perfect and that's one of them. I'd redo my pitiful 20's (and maybe the teens too) if I could figure out a way to go back in time and be there for that twenty seconds :)
I have this on Dvd (25th anniversary at the O2 Arena), and watch it regularly. The thing l love of this quartet singing is not just the fantastic voices, but the cast behind listening in silence. In fact the lady next to Michael Ball gets so emotional that she places her head on his shoulder during this. It's a wonderful sight to behold. Also during 'one day more', a piece of confetti falls quietly unnoticed behind Alfie Boe, and no one blinks. This show is on my bucket list to watch live one day. Hopefully l will achieve this goal.
Everyone has their favorite. He doesn't use the key change in the actual play, it was just for the quartet. Colm made the role his, I prefer him to Hugh : )
People these days are so impressed by technique. Do you think in this day and age there aren't a million brilliant technicians being bred in a little classical music laboratory? Alfie is a fantastic singer, but the timbre and the temperament of his voice is always the same, regardless of the role or the scene. A powerful (though admittedly beautiful) voice is ill-fitting for this song. Karimloo, for example, knew how to dial back the verdi-baritone and offer something inducing of the kind of standing-ovations that Colm gets. They both are my favorite Valjeans, Colm first, Karimloo second. Alfie is good, but I always know how I'm going to feel at the end of the song: "wow, more confirmation that you have a nice voice!"
Yes, NBC has taken down Les Mis 25th videos, but Alfie is on tour in the UK and concert goers are up loading their own videos of BHH as well as some other great new pieces, Rank Strangers...
